More than 20 of the record fleet of 185 boats in this year's Newport to Bermuda thrash had crossed the St. David's finish line by mid evening yesterday - included among them Robert Mulderig's Starr Trail, one of five Bermuda entries.

Competing in class eight of the IMS Cruiser/Racing Division, Starr Trail was timed in 74 hours, 41 minutes and nine seconds.

That left Mulderig in the 13th place overall last night, but only 12th in his class.

On board were a number of Bermuda sailors - Glenn Astwood, Tom Wadson, Blair Simmons, Eddie Bardgett, Brian Hillier, David Juleff, Stephen King, Anthoni Lightbourne and Hughie Watlington - as well as crew from the USA, England and the Channel Islands.

There was no word last night on the other four Bermuda entries - Stephen Sherwin's Borderlaw, Colin Couper's Babe, Richard Spurling's Hinano and Paul Hubbard's Bermuda Oyster, although several more entries were expected to finish during the night.

While the maxi Pyewacket was first across the line in record time on Sunday night, it appeared increasingly likely that overall honours on corrected time would go to Robert Towse's 66ft Blue Yankee, one of 11 entries in class nine of the IMS Racing Division.

Blue Yankee's corrected time was 51 hours, 59 minutes and 23 seconds.

Organisers reported last night that so far 10 boats had been forced to withdraw, some returning to the US and others continuing their voyage to Bermuda under motor.