Black Jack scores line honours victory in Brisbane to Gladstone race

by Ian Grant on 11 Apr 2009 Peter Harburg’s pocket rocket Black Jack romped to an impressive line honours win in the 308 N/ml Brisbane to Gladstone Race earlier this morning.

Her crew racing under principal helmsman Mark Bradford overcome relatively light winds to become the first 20 m momohull to complete the physically demanding classic under 24 hours.

In fact her course time caught race officials by surprise when her crew enjoyed the fastest ride reaching 22 knots 33 n/mls out from the finish.

Skipper Mark Bradford was full of praise for the crew who had virtually no sleep overnight.

They had averaged 14.86 knots in two sail reaching winds which failed to gust above 20 knots.

'It was a fairly uneventful night which improved with the fast ride across the top of Hervey Bay' Mark Bradford said.

Her official course time of 22 hours 7 minutes 18 seconds set the race handicap clock ticking against her 47 rivals this morning.

She had docked and her crew were enjoying a cold beer while Quantum Racing, Wot Now Wot Yacht and Shogun continued their duel for the minor places.

All four high performance yachts were continuing to race in close company but still had 55 miles to race when Black Jack completed her impressive course time at 9-07-18 this morning.