Locke has key to Peaks contest
VIC Locke and his crew aboard his Holland 40, Bugis, bid for an unprecedented hat-trick of line honours victories in the annual Fragrant Harbour-Aberdeen Boat Club 4 Peaks Race this weekend, Hongkong's ultimate test of seamanship and athletic prowess.
A fleet of 19 craft and crew will bid to navigate Hongkong's tricky waters and ascend four peaks in the process before the finish tomorrow off Chung Hom Kok.
The fleet set sail this morning and by the time the race is over they will have sailed more than 120 kilometres, much of the distance at night, run nearly 30 kilometres and climbed a collective total of more than 2,000 metres.
The event is now in its ninth year and the Aberdeen club have placed a great emphasis on safety and exempted one member of each crew from ascending the four peaks - Ma On Shan (720 metres), Violet Hill (433 metres), Mt Stenhouse (353 metres) and Lantau Peak (934 metres) - a relief to Locke.
Locke said last night he faced a highly competitive fleet this year.
He singled out the Farr-designed 9.2-metre Farr Fetched as a strong contender along with the armed forces entry, Vengeance.
''Xiabu Xiabu will by vying for line honours and Brian Renwick's Delphian can't be ruled out if the wind blows at force four as forecast,'' he added.
The race begins at 11 am off Hongkong Island's Cape D'Aguilar and competitors set sail for the first of the four peaks, Ma On Shan. From there they go to Lantau Island, to climb Lantau Peak, then to Lamma Island and Mt Stenhouse. Finally there is Deep Water Bay and Violet Hill and on to the nearby finish line.
Locke and his crew have consistently won the race on the water.
