Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race fleet on weather watch
by Nigel Statham on 14 Apr 2014
Kerumba - QantasLink Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race Nigel Statham
QantasLink Brisbane to Gladstone Ocean Race crews will continue to monitor Cyclone Ita as they continue with the countdown to the race start at 11 am on Good Friday April 18.
There is plenty of grunt around Brisbane and its surrounds at the moment which is unsettling the plans of more than a couple delivery crews but the latest forecast suggests that by the time the start comes around on Friday morning, the breeze will be anything but fresh.
However, the forecast will not detract from the contest to decide the 66th overall winner of the prestigious The Courier Mail Cup awarded to the crew who complete the physically demanding and mentally tormenting 308 nautical mile blue water classic with the fastest corrected course time.
Black Jack, owned by Brisbane businessman Peter Harburg and capably sailed by a highly experienced crew headed by principal helmsman Mark Bradford, remain massive Line Honours favourites and considering the uncertain forecast, have the proven speed potential to challenge her smaller rivals on handicap.
But the super-fast ex Telefonica round the world boat will need to produce a tactically clever race to outpace her high rating and win the race outright over a strong group of challengers including Tim McCall’s Arcadia, two match racing Farr 30 class yachts, Immigrant and Italian Job, Tony Love’s Patriot and the Kerr 50 Kerumba.
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