A hero's reception awaited competitors on the third morning of the 24th annual Three Peaks Race yesterday morning as teams rounded the Freycinet Peninsula and pulled in at the Coles Bay jetty.

The crowd went berserk for the event's celebrity entrant, Jessica Watson, as her Big Wave Rider docked at 8.30am.

Watson, along with skipper Bruce Arms, were equal parts taken aback and grateful for their warm welcome.

``We've been given a hot breakfast, hot showers - it's been absolutely lovely,'' Watson said.

``In fact, maybe a bit too lovely, because as soon as we get used to it, we'll have to leave!''

The moonlight journey down Tasmania's East Coast on Saturday night was a welcome change for competitors, who were more than happy to put Flinders Island, and the perilous conditions of the previous 24 hours, behind them.

Horrendous wind and crunching waves in Bass Strait on Friday night saw the event's most experienced crew run aground, while several boats were damaged and three withdrew.

Some sailors were reported to have suffered broken ribs during the treacherous voyage.

When racing resumed on Saturday afternoon, conditions were still far from pleasant, with crews sailing south from Flinders Island into 30 knot winds and 4 to 5 metre waves.

But by nightfall, the welcome sight of Musselroe Bay and Tasmania's North-East coast set vessels up for a relatively gentle run past the Bay of Fires, St Helens and Bicheno.

Watson said her team's runners made the most of the calm conditions at sea.

``Yeah they didn't get much rest on Friday night - it was a bit rough for them,'' she said.

``But we didn't see them at all last night, which was great.''

The Easter Sunday crowd had been forming at Coles Bay since 6am to meet the 18-year-old Queenslander and her race-leading crew.