Layne Beachley has ridden countless waves on a surfboard but tackling them on a racing yacht proved an extremely uncomfortable challenge. The seven-time world surfing champion spent much of her Sydney-to-Hobart race debut confined to her bunk by severe seasickness after joining the sporting celebrity-studded crew on supermaxi Investec LOYAL.

"I got really sick," said Beachley after reaching the welcome stability of Hobart's Constitution Dock early on Wednesday. "I felt like I was being squeezed by a piece of rope around my stomach and just squeezed ...until there was not an ounce of liquid left in my body. "It was extraordinarily uncomfortable, and fortunately there was a bucket of water near my bed."Skipper Sean Langman joked that Beachley had won the crew's "golden pillow" award and praised her spirit.

"She did a great job," said Langman. "Today she was sitting on the rail cracking jokes, so she was our morale officer."The 100-foot Investec LOYAL was second across the finish line in a time of two days, 11 hours and 11 minutes. And despite her discomfort Beachley said she was keen to take part in the race again.

But she may have to convince her husband - INXS guitarist Kirk Pengilly - who loudly interjected "bullshit" when she suggested it. Also onboard LOYAL was former Test cricketer Matthew Hayden, comeback swimmer Geoff Huegill and former Wallabies forwards Phil Kearns and Phil Waugh.

Huegill said he hadn't suffered nearly as much as Beachley as the going got especially rough in Monday's 40-50 knot winds. "I got a little bit sick but it was something that you just shook off," he said.

"I'd definitely do it again."Hayden was typically laconic about his trip, despite five-metre waves in Bass Strait. "I just had a really comfortable journey, I just loved the experience," he said. "I actually thought it was going to be much rougher, to be honest."