Sail Paradise 2014 - Peter Harburg’s new challenge

by Bronwen Ince on 8 Jan 2014 Sail Paradise 2014 is being held from 14th to 16th March 2014 and will be contested on courses off the Gold Coast’s famous beaches. Having claimed an impressive fourth place across the line in the recent Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, Peter Harburg has set Southport Yacht Club’s Sail Paradise regatta as the next challenge for his Volvo 70, Black Jack.

'We love everything about Sail Paradise,' Harburg said, 'so we will certainly be there.'

His sailing master, sailmaker Mark ‘Squark’ Bradford, was equally enthusiastic about the series.

'There is no better place to race offshore in this part of the world,' Bradford said. 'The courses and sailing conditions are ideal, and the hospitality at the yacht club second to none.

'We are looking forward to some great racing as part of our build-up to the Brisbane to Gladstone race.'

Black Jack was built specially for the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean race round the world as a Spanish entry. She was launched under the sponsorship of Telefonica and won the first three legs of the gruelling event.

Harburg purchased the 21.5 metre long racer early last year, shipped her to Australia and had modifications made to suit local conditions.

'We were really pleased with our result in the Hobart race,' Harburg said this week. 'Our mainsail split in half more than 40 miles from the finish and we had to then sail under a tiny storm trysail for the rest of the race. Even so, we were able to come from behind and finish fourth across the line.'

Both Harburg and Bradford said they were hoping other top-line racing yachts in south-east Queensland would join them at Sail Paradise and enjoy some exceptional racing.

Sail Paradise 2014 is open to racing and cruising monohulls, multihulls and off-the-beach sailboats.

Event website: click here