Robert Mulderig's 72-foot sloop Starr Trail blazed across the finish line off St.David's Head late yesterday afternoon to capture line honours in the 14th biennial Marion to Bermuda Race.

Starr Trail crossed the finish around 4.15 p.m. in an unofficial time of 73 and a half hours - just one hour outside the existing race record of 72 and a half hours set in 1993 by local skipper Kirk Cooper onboard Alphida.

Coincidentally, Cooper was onboard Starr Trail during this year's 645-mile crossing.

At 6.40 p.m., the silhouetted hull of the sleek yacht slowly emerged through the haze of Hamilton Harbour and made her way to the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club dock, where family members and well wishers were on hand to greet the skipper and crew.

Once docked, there would be no champagne corks flying or crew members tossed overboard, as is tradition, but instead plenty of hugs and kisses as the gruelling journey which had begun on Friday in Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts, finally came to an end.

At press time last night, it was reported that the next boat was due to arrive across the finish sometime after midnight. American skippers Jim Feeny (Kathleen) and Jay Anderson (Heron) were reported to be 60 miles from the finish.

“It was very exciting,” exclaimed a weather-beaten Mulderig as he set foot on dry land.

“We were going for the record which is held by Kirk Cooper and we missed it by about an hour. But he's onboard and that's ok . . . we won't take the record from another Bermudian boat.”

Mulderig was accompanied by a crew of 14 sailors, including his son Drew, who celebrates his 15th birthday today.

“It's absolutely great to be the first boat across the line and it's also great to be the first Bermuda boat back home,” added the 50-year-old sailing veteran.

As with most ocean crossings, Starr Trail encountered her share of battering from the elements.

“The winds were generally favourable and the seas were moderate, though it was a bit rough crossing the Gulf Stream.

“But otherwise we had very favourable winds, we had north-easterly winds in the beginning of the race and nice south-westerly winds which we anticipated coming into Bermuda. So the winds were very favourable for us,” the skipper explained.

Mulderig said he wanted to catch some rest and spend some quiet time with his family before heading out into the Great Sound on Friday for the traditional Friends and Family Race which will see some of the Marion to Bermuda racing fleet compete in a leisurely, recreational event.

“I'm looking forward to that and a good week back home with friends and family. It's just nice to finally be back home,” said the insurance businessman.