No one could accuse InfoTrack owner Christian Beck of talking up his Sydney-Hobart supermaxi.
On Christmas Eve, Beck memorably described his boat as a "shitbox".
A few hours before the start of the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race on Tuesday, Beck was again playing down the prospects of his boat, which as Perpetual LOYAL last year took line honours in record time.
"To go out there and everyone thinking you're going to win and to not win would be bad so I thought I would talk the boat down a bit," Beck said.
"But the truth is it is by far the cheapest of the four (supermaxis).
"I think, realistically, money does matter in these boats.
"I love the boat, it's a lot of fun, but it just doesn't have a good chance of winning against these other three because they are very, very good and they've spent a lot of money."
Beck was targeting being first out of Sydney Heads rather than first to Hobart.
"The only way we can win is if Comanche breaks down or does something stupid," Beck said.
"But with the navigator (Stan Honey) on there, I don't think anyone is going to do anything stupid.
"Only if they break down and then we have to beat Wild Oats, which is going to be virtually impossible, I think.
"The modifications they have done are apparently very good for these conditions. They will probably be giving Comanche a strong run for her money.
"I think our chances of winning are very low."
Beck said his colourful description of the boat had been well received by his crew.
"They liked it because what they said to me is that they can't say that, only I could say that, so I think they were relieved I said that," Beck said.
Senior members of another supermaxi, Black Jack, also played down their chances.
"We'll claim the underdog. We're from Queensland so we have to," skipper Mark Bradford quipped.
