in a row.

The 81-foot sloop took a fraction over three days to complete the 635-mile voyage -- the fastest time for 10 years.

"It was an extremely pleasant voyage,'' said Coumantaros. "There was a little discomfort here and there but everyone enjoyed it.

"We suffered no damage, no ripped sails, nothing. We were extremely fortunate.'' Boomerang 's speedy voyage was helped by winds which blew up to 35 miles an hour at times. But she was unable to threaten the record held by Nirvana who took just over two-and-a-half days to reach Bermuda in 1982.

For skipper George Coumantaros it was a fine way to celebrate his 20th consecutive Newport to Bermuda Race.

He and his crew had braved strong winds and rough seas to complete the 635-mile voyage from Brenton Reef Tower off Newport, Rhode Island in just 72 hours, 19 minutes and 29 seconds.

It was the third victory in five outings for New Yorker Coumantaros, who also crossed the line first in 1984.

"We were hoping to break the record, but it wasn't to be,'' said Coumantaros.

"We lost the rest of the fleet about 20 hours after the start. From then on we were on our own.'' In 1990, Boomerang finished only 15 minutes ahead of Starlight Express , but this year the second boat Congere was too far behind to overhaul her on corrected time.

Congere , another of the Maxis, followed Boomerang home on Monday, but she was nearly three-and-a-half hours behind her Class A rival, raising Coumantaros' hopes of claiming overall honours for the first time.

But those hopes were soon dashed as a whole stream of boats subsequently overhauled her when scores had been worked out according to handicaps based on the International Measurement System.

Coumantaros' 27-man crew included many of the men who helped him to victory in 1990. "Most of them have been with me for a long time,'' he said.

Weather conditions could not have been worse when Boomerang completed the race. "We could hardly see the finish line,'' said Coumantaros.

But the rain had stopped by the time she reached the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club where the crew got drenched once again -- this time in champagne.

"We always get a warm welcome here,'' said Coumantaros. "But I can't remember a time when there's been so much rain.'' After getting drenched as they crossed the finish line, many crew members got another soaking when they were thrown overboard during the victory celebrations at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

Others were sprayed with champagne as race chairman Dev Barker and RBYC commodore John Thompson offered their congratulations.

Coumantaros' son John and his son-in-law John Katsaounis were among Boomerang 's winning crew along with navigator Robert Hale, watch captain and tactician Tom McLaughlin, watch captain Peter Conrad and cook Alex Wadson. Jeff Neuberth, Richie Boyd, Tom Rich, John Fisher, Richie Collins, Pat Kennedy, Chuck Kemp, Mike Sullivan, Conn Findlay, Steve Gill, Chan Reis, Mike van Beuren, Fernando Larrey, Alden Anderson, Patrick Smart, Chuck Angell, Nick Larrey, Hugh Symonds, Tom Arena and Jay Stanley completed the picture.

IN THE DRINK -- Two members of Boomerrang's crew who were thrown overboard during the victory celebrations.