In 15 knot winds and glorious sunshine, the 45th ? and comfortably the largest ? Newport-Bermuda Race got off to a flying start in Narragensett Bay yesterday.

The centennial sailing of the prestigious ocean race saw an unprecedented 267 vessels mass off Castle Hill, and in 16 divisional starts spread over more than two hours, they began their challenging 635-mile journey to the St. David?s Lighthouse finish.

With an armada of spectator boats joining the wide-ranging competitors, the seas off Newport were a mass of colour and noise, with plenty of the traditional near collisions setting the stage for some tough sailing ahead.

Despite having between two and as many as seven days at sea ahead of them, there was still much pre-line jostling with more than a handful of vessels forced to return to the start after going over early ? including a quarter of the first class to go off.

The boats headed towards the cloudless horizon in their own divisions, although the usual stir was created by the larger Demonstration Division vessels, the last to go off, with the 100ft leading off strongly at a good 18-knot pace in pursuit of the 48-hour barrier and a new elapsed time crossing record.

With three helicopters circling above and the best part of 500 onlookers camping on the grounds of Castle Hill, there was definitely a buzz in the air as the sail boats set off on their arduous journey in what is increasingly being described as ?a very special sailing of a special race? by organisers and competitors alike.

Although the 15 knot winds for the start gave the boats the perfect push off, light winds were still predicted for further down the course, ensuring any course records would still be tough to beat.

The first to go among the seven Bermudian vessels competing was Colin Couper?s Swan 46 at 2.20p.m. Bermuda time with Governor Sir John Vereker aboard for his third ocean crossing.

Steve Sherwin?s was next away before Robert Mulderig?s took two bites at the start cherry. Mulderig?s Farr 72 was called for an early start and was forced to go again while on the successful second attempt, they took a wide westerly route, cutting through some of the 100-plus spectator boats dotting the route.

There were no such problems for any of the remaining Bermuda boats, with Richard Hartley?s , Paul Hubbard?s , , skippered by David Roblin and Joseph Hoopes? all moving off into Rhode Island Sound with their fellow competitors.

The more than 2,500 sailors ? creating Bermuda?s largest ever sporting event worth the best part of $10 million to the Island ? can expect around 24 hours of decent breeze before encountering the calm area left in the wake of Tropical Storm Alberto.

Although Bermuda?s unpredictable weather is likely to give the boats some assistance in the final section of the crossing, the general consensus is that Gulf Stream tactics will play a decisive role in determining in whose hands the myriad of trophies end up.

Although owner Charles Brown believed his beloved ?gladiator of the sea? could complete the 635 miles in 33 hours, the weather should mean a crossing time around the 48-hour mark.

And while could be home tomorrow lunchtime, the majority of the fleet will trickle home from Monday onwards, with some set to take as long as a week to complete the ?Thrash to the Onion Patch?.

One boat which will not make it to Bermuda is , an Open 60 that was originally due to take on in the Demonstration Division. Just minutes before her scheduled 4.30 start, she hit a reef, damaging her keel and putting an end to their race.