Records look certain to be shattered in this year's Newport-Bermuda Race if today's start is anything to go by.

A host of powerboats struggled to keep up with three beautiful new generation "super-maxis" at the Newport-Bermuda Race start.

The much-hyped Demonstration Division set off from Narrangassett Bay at 2.40 p.m. local time yesterday, and immediately showed just why Pyewacket's 53-hour mark set in 2002 may be destroyed come Sunday morning.

With the dense overnight fog burned off by early morning, the fleet of 157 boats set off in 10 to 12 knot winds, with the new-improved 86-ft Pyewacket setting the early pace by cutting through the water at up to 18 knots in the opening five miles of the 44th instalment of the 98-year-old ocean crossing.