The 112km event, this year be held on Sunday, May 4, reached new levels of excitement last year when Queensland Formula 1 outboard ace Craig Truslove powered to victory after Maroota’s Ricky Howard snapped a propeller while leading.

Truslove’s grab for gold in an outboard has signalled a changing of the guard in the Bridge 2 Bridge, and he is only starting to enjoy the scent of possibly claiming back to back titles.

“Last year taught us so much, but we were lucky, no doubt about it,” Truslove said last week.

“Our F1 boat is used to revving at around 10,000rpm for 25 or 30 seconds a lap, but in the Bridge it ran flat out for 32 minutes and shook almost everything loose from our power steering.”

Truslove, 48, a home loans executive and Gold Coast nightclub owner, will relocate his F1 boat to the Hawkesbury and fly down every weekend until he has the set up for the race downpat.

The major chances representing the Hawkesbury in V8 power sector of the race will be multiple winner, and race record holder Howard and his flying brother-in-law Paul Vella.

Howard owns the record at 31 minutes 14 seconds and he was devastated when his boat’s propeller snapped while leading handsomely last year.

“I gave the opposition a free kick last time on the Hawkesbury, but I’m back this year, as is Paul in a new boat,” he said.

Windsor RSL Club general manager, Jason Moore, confirmed the club’s on going sponsorship of the event and said he was delighted with growing international interest in the event.

“Following the success that was generated by last year’s Windsor RSL sponsorship, we are thrilled to be back supporting the unique event that carries our name,” he said.

Record entries are expected for the 72nd Windsor RSL Bridge 2 Bridge Classic, with confirmed starters having already been booked from Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and all over NSW.