Sailing: Smith looks to Geake

The British yacht Silk Cut has rung the changes in its crew again by appointing the Whitbread Round the World Race veteran Vincent Geake as its new navigator.

The 35-year-old Geake will replace Steve Hayles from the start of the fifth leg of the race, which leaves Auckland on 1 February. Geake sailed with the Silk Cut skipper, Lawrie Smith, in the 1989-90 race on Rothmans.

Geake had been commentating on the race for television before yesterday's call-up from Smith, who said: "It was time for a change, fresh ideas and a fresh approach. Vincent has sailed with me on several other events and I know he'll fit in very well."

Silk Cut, which is now in seventh place, also drafted in Gerard Mitchell in place of Neil Graham on Thursday.