Maybe it was just the excitement and the simple joy of preparing for the challenge that awaited them.

But Steven Vestbirk and Greg Vasic, crewing aboard Defiant , were in a jovial mood as they attended to last-minute details at Newport Marina last week.

Asked their strategy for the Newport-Bermuda Race, Vasic said: "Try not to wiggle -- and make sure that the boats with a slower handicap are behind you.'' Vestbirk's answer was equally simple: "Sail fast, keep it in a straight line and stay out of the way of things that may slow you down.'' Asked what is so special about the race that prompts them to race against state of the art 70-foot Maxis in the 20-year-old 40-footer, Vasic hesitated for a moment then said: "I think it's the challenge of man against the wallet.'' And what of Defiant 's chances? "About 160-1. I think those are pretty fair odds,'' said Vestbirk, not needing to add that only 161 boats started the race.

Vestbirk can get away with saying things like this because he's the boat's owner, even though he's listed as second mate on the crew list. He bought Defiant a year ago and registered her in Bermuda but the boat has never been in Island waters.

But she'll be kept permanently in Bermuda upon arrival.

And while he jokes about his boat's speed, the truth is she get can get going at a pretty good clip, although, like a lot of boats, she struggled in the light air that marked this year's race.

For the race, Vestbirk has turned over the captain's chair to his father-in -law, Col. Mike Brown of Winchester, England.

Other crew members were Paul Hiles, Steve Hackett, Bob Cunningham, Eric Huntington, Andy Annett and Guy Brown.

Brown, from London, is the skipper's son and brother of Vestbirk's wife, Georgina. Vestbirk, Hiles, Annett, Huntington and Vasic -- one of the organisers of the Bermuda Offshore Cruising Association -- all live in Bermuda.

Every one on board has done an ocean race and "most of us have sailed together for a long time in BOCA,'' said Vestbirk.

But the group have not spent a lot of time together aboard Defiant and Vasic conceded that familiarity with the boat is one of the challenges they face.

Another is logistics.

"It's an incredible organisational challenge,'' said Vasic, rhyming off food, water, safety equipment, rating certificates, man overboard drills that need to be looked after before sailing.

"Actually, by the time you get sailing, it's almost relaxing,'' said Vestbirk.

By Thursday morning, Defiant was still at sea.

ACT OF DEFIANT'S -- The crew of Defiant pose just prior to leaving Newport for the race to Bermuda last week. The 20-year-old NY 40 is owned by Steven Vestbirk (third from right) and skippered by Col. Mike Brown.