MARION — The first boat has reached the finish line in the Marion to Bermuda race.

Redwood, skippered by Pike Severance, crossed the Marion Bermuda Race finish line off of St. David's Head in Bermuda at 7:13 a.m., with an elapsed sailing time of four days, 18 hours, 33 minutes and 42 seconds.

Redwood is a part of Oakcliff Sailing, a sailing school in Oyster Bay, New York. 

Integrity, skippered by Nancy Rhodes and Jordan Hall, crossed the finish line at 8:40 a.m., with an elapsed time of four days, 20 hours, 30 minutes and nine seconds.

With three foot waves and strong winds, sailors participating in the race were in for a rough start on Buzzards Bay. 

Even before the race began, the 21 competitors struggled in the intense winds to reach the start line in the waters Friday, June 20.

With horns echoing across the bay, many sailors began the race with sails unfurled and clothes soaked through as they set off for the Bermuda Islands. According to SeaTemperature.org, Buzzards Bay was 65 degrees at the beginning of the regatta.

Skippers and their crews used compasses, GPS and celestial navigation to reach the Bermuda Islands in a journey that stretches multiple days.

Five of the 21 boats sailing this year are opted to use celestial navigation, or, the action of sailing to a destination by observing the sun, moon and stars.

Four boats are being skippered by Marion residents. R. Davis Webb is skippering Ardent, Ronald Wisner is skippering Hotspur II, Mark Lindquist is skippering Raptor and Michael Malone is skippering Rossaveal.

The final race results with updated times can be viewed live online at marionbermuda.com.