VIC Locke will have a new boat and a new crew as he attempts to add yet another TAG Heuer Four Peaks Race title to his collection over the weekend.
Locke has had several successes on Bugis over the years. But he sold the sloop nine months ago and is hoping to start a new era of success in the demanding race with his eight-strong crew on Banner 41 Intrigue.
He only finalised his crew last night when Kylie McKenna became a last-minute replacement for her brother Sean, who had to pull out with influenza.
Although he has won the event several times, Locke expects tough competition from the 30-boat fleet, particularly Mark Horton's J35 Sky Song, John Blay's S & S 36 Windseeker and Mark Leese's X-412 sloop Xiabu Xiabu 5.
Nicolas Celier will skipper Bugis this year.
'It's my favourite event on the yachting calendar,' Locke said yesterday. 'I have an excellent, internationally-flavoured crew with some good runners and I think we have a very fast boat.
'Intrigue is very different to Bugis and if we can get some speed out of the boat, I'm sure we will have a chance.' The arduous race takes in about 80 nautical miles of sea racing and 23 miles of running and hill climbing.
