Larry Landry remembers well the last time he sailed in the Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race.

"The last time I did it was in a 63-foot cruising boat," he said Monday evening.

"It took us five days."

Record-setting ride

Landry and his team were certainly cruising in this year's race from Marblehead, Mass. to Halifax, only this time it was en route to a record-setting first place finish.

Landry, along with co-owners David Siwicki and Paul McDowell were part of the 21-person crew of Prospector, a 68-foot yacht based at the Shelter Island Yacht Club in New York.

The crew, clad in green, finished the journey in 28 hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds as they sailed into Halifax Harbour on a postcard perfect evening, easily topping the previous mark of 30 hours, 46 minutes and 52 seconds, set in 2011.

Prospector pulls into the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron after setting a new record in the Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race. (Michael Gorman/CBC)

Landry said conditions for the race were perfect.

"You couldn't get better conditions. No fog, great sunshine, a spectacular night [Sunday] night — chamber of commerce weather."

McDowell said they knew they had a fast boat — the group bought it last year with the intention of taking on big races — but the crew didn't discuss breaking the race record until they'd crossed the finish line and realized where they were, he said.

"You always think something's going to happen — you come to a slow spot or you're going to break a sail or something like that."

The 21-person crew of Prospector is a mix of friends, family and professional sailors. (Michael Gorman/CBC)

Prospector is one of 73 boats taking part in the race.

The race's co-director, Anne Coulombe of the Boston Yacht Club, said the race is a very technical one because of geography, the time of year and weather.

"You have to really be a team to be offshore," she said. "You have to know what you're doing. It's a dangerous sport, but it's also a ton of fun."

Prospector and her crew are greeted by waiting boats as the 68-foot yacht sailed into Halifax Habour. (Luke Porter)

Prospector already has some strong performances under her belt, including winning the Pineapple Cup, an 811-mile race from Miami to Montego Bay.

Landry said more races are planned.

"She's an exhilarating boat to sail. One of the very best monohulls in the world."