Moet and Chandon -- to welcome the crew of Windquest here after the US boat took line honours in the Newport to Bermuda Race, the first of the 149 ocean racers to finish the 635-mile ocean crossing.

But it was the cans of beer that most of the weary crew of 20 savoured as they celebrated their achievement, which was four minutes and 20 seconds than the time recorded by Boomerang in 1992. The boat was 10 hours slower than the record Nirvana set in 1982.

"This is a dream come true,'' said Dick De Vos yesterday, the owner of the 71-foot maxi yacht.

Windquest was followed by a pair of boats a few hours later, including one of nine Bermuda entries, Longobarda , captained by Francis Carter.

Longobarda reached the finish line at St. David's Lighthouse in 75 hours, 38 minutes and 52 seconds, a whisker behind Renegade which finished at 75 hours, 21 minutes and 29 seconds.

Longobarda , however, stands at second so far on corrected time.

Windquest , one of 12 boats competing in the Racing Division, reached the finish line at 2.25 p.m. yesterday.

Full story -- Page 25 WINDQUEST IN A BREEZE -- A beaming Doug and Dick De Vos, far left, led a chorus of smiles after their sailboat, Windquest , captured line honours in the Newport to Bermuda race yesterday.