MARION, Massachusetts -- A spectacular crash that resulting in two persons being hospitalised, highlighted yesterday's start to the Marion-Bermuda race.

The Naval Academy's entry Swift slammed head on into another US Class B craft, Growltiger , opening a gaping hole in the latter's port side.

It was reported that a crew member aboard Swift suffered a badly bruised leg, while another incurred a gash to his foot.

Details were sketchy but it was believed that the navy boat was at fault as it was on a port tack and should have conceded the right of way to Growltiger , which was going to starboard.

Both craft immediately headed back to port under power after the injured parties had been removed and put in the care of the emergency rescue team.

"It's an unfortunate situation, but these things happen from time to time,'' said executive committee member Thomas Farquhar, who was also an official on the starting line.

"When we observed the navy boat there was a bowman on there, we're not sure if there was one on Growltiger .'' Other than the aforementioned incident there were few problems at the start with no one getting out prematurely and only one boat, Seanot , facing possible penalties for crossing the line improperly.

Winds were southwesterly at 15-20 knots and waters had a five to 10-foot chop, making for quite a roll.

The smaller classes -- G and F -- neither of which contained Bermuda boats, left first out of Buzzard's Bay under severe fog, making for poor visibility.

American Donald Atwood's Allegro seized the early lead in Class F, leading Gernit Sanford ( Kitty Hawk ) and Ron Noonan ( Wildflower ) down the shoreline.

In Class F, it was favourite Anny with Loren Vultee at the helm out first, followed by Patrick O'Donnell's Annie and Abbot Fletcher in Majek .

Disaster greeted Paul Hubbard and Tonka as he got tied up lufting toward the line, almost hitting the left marker and then was forced into making a 360-degree turn when a tacking manoeuvre went awry.

Meanwhile, first-time Marion competitor Leslie Swainson ( Scheherazade ) breezed away, showing exceptional boat speed, with only a single boat ahead of him.

One of those rooting for Swainson was Victor Garcia, commodore of the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.

"My heart's really with Leslie and how they make it across on their first trip,'' said Garcia, adding, "on aggregate they're a very experienced crew.'' Colin Couper ( Vivace ), the lone local in Class D sat in the middle of the pack and would be hoping for a less eventful journey than the one encountered back in 1991.

That troubled journey took 116 hours, 37 minutes and 47 seconds and had Vivace finish toward the tail-end of the fleet.

Sailing short-handed, David Roblin's Lullaby still managed to get off the line first in Class C.

Accompanying her were Robert Mulderig ( Starr Trail ) and Nicholas Dill ( Dillightful ).

"We have to beat it out of the bay,'' Martin Purser, the navigator for Lullaby , had said prior to the start. "The Gulf Stream does not appear to be a huge issue this year as in previous years. An advantage can be gained by hitting the two eddys, but we don't want to be around too long looking for them and lose time.'' "There are a lot of good sailors here and we'll have to sail on and enjoy ourselves.'' Last to get off were the "big boys'' in Class A with Kirk Cooper in his 60-foot sloop Alphida expected to battle scratch boat Krisujen (Joseph Dockery) for line honours. Cooper, first on elapsed time in 1991, held the early edge, but Dockery also got off well.

Buddy Rego ( Tsunami ) had a man up on the mast working on his anometer 30 minutes before the start, however, things looked to be in good shape as they got under way.

The smallest boat in Class A -- a 41-foot frers sloop -- Rego, like several others, went on a port tack to the shoreline to pick up more breeze heading out to sea.

"We can now go back to sleep,'' joked a relieved Richard Healy after a hectic week. "Our next step is to head for Bermuda and Marion goes back to its small town personality.'' With the elimination of two boats yesterday 113 were accounted for as having started.

"Frankly this is a good number of boats considering the state of the economy,'' said Alan Stickles, commodore of the Beverly Yacht Club. "I think we've been fortunate with the weather and I'm extremely proud of the committee on both ends.'' Also on hand to witness the proceedings were the mayor of Hamilton, Cecil Dismont, and Cultural Affairs Minister Leonard Gibbons.

The first boat is expected late on Monday night or early on Tuesday.