Tired but elated, a crew of three power boaters broke out the champagne on Saturday after smashing the boating record from the US to Bermuda.

Forrest Munden, Del Lippert and Matt Connery cut the record by almost seven hours when Red White and Two crossed the finish line just after 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The three men had set out 29 hours and 19 minutes earlier from New Hampshire.

And after a sleepless day and night on the custom-built, high-speed catamaran, the three celebrated their record-breaking run with friends and supporters before getting some well-earned rest.

"I've been to Bermuda by boat many times before but this has been the smoothest ride,'' Mr. Lippert said of the memorable experience.

The idea for the run came three years ago when Mr. Munden's company, World Class Catamarans of Greenville, North Carolina, was challenged by a boating magazine to break the record of 37 hours set in October, 1996 by Glacier Bay which raced from Virginia to Bermuda.

The previous world record was set using a catamaran, so the crew of three chose the same type of boat but also decided to use Mercury engines, described by Dr. Connery as "very fuel efficient''.

Pilot Dr. Connery, an environmental educator, also said the size of the waves caused the two 150 horsepower engines to go under water for long periods of time without cutting out, proving how good they were.

In order for the boat and its crew of three to get safely to Bermuda, they also needed navigational equipment.

This was supplied by Mr. Lippert, president of Raytheon Marine Company, who also navigated the boat and operated the global position system (GPS), which told the crew where they were at all times.

Mr. Lippert told The Royal Gazette that the use of technology was the main help for this record breaking event.

"One of the things I learned coming across that great big pond is it can be dangerous,'' co-pilot Mr. Munden added, recalling the feeling of loneliness the crew had at around midnight with just a single searchlight illuminating the way.

The three men did not sleep during the voyage, which began at 9 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Friday. Each had separate responsibilities and there was no room to sleep apart from a cramped bench at the stern of the open cockpit to rest.

Salt Whistle Marine owner John Trimingham, who met the vessel ten miles off the Island, said the only mistake made was when the crew members alerted Harbour Radio, thinking they were 100 miles away, but they were actually 150 miles away.

The three crew members are staying at Mid Ocean Club, getting some well-earned rest and enjoying the sights of Bermuda for a while.

The boat will either be sold or sent abroad for display and used to promote products.