Black Jack in control - Brisbane to Gladstone race

by Ian Grant on 11 Apr 2009
Brisbane pocket-maxi Black Jack reached for super star status when she power sailed past Lady Elliot Island at 3 o’clock this morning.

Owner Peter Harburg was onboard heading for his own special place in the 61 year Brisbane to Gladstone Race history when skipper Mark Bradford and crew left a white water wake reaching the 223 nautical mile mark with a remarkable average speed of 14.86 knots.

The experience was a ride to remember for the Black Jack crew especially for Peter Harburg who no doubt had a special thought for his father ABC Radio personality Clive who broadcast the start of the first race in 1949.

When Black Jack cleared Moreton Bay before dusk yesterday there was an obvious sign that her crew were heading for a comfortable line honours win over the smaller yachts Quantum Racing, Wot Yot, Wot Now, Shogun and Wedgetail.

But by 3am today Black Jack had stretched her lead to an amazing 32 nautical miles over the 2008 winner Quantum Racing and promised to make a clean sweep on the trophies, including the 61 year old Courier-Mail Cup awarded to the outright race winner on corrected handicap, as the crew continued to enjoy a fast spinnaker sailing ride across Hervey Bay.

Race Director Herb Prendergast is expecting Black Jack to complete the 308 nautical mile classic with an approximate course time of 22 hours, some two hours outside the 20 hour 24 minute 50 second record set by Grant Wharington’s maxi Skandia in 2004.

However the pre dawn 18 to 20knot easterly wind was not blowing from the best angle forcing Black Jack to continually tack downwind to log the required speed to keep her overall race winning chances alive.

Based on the fleet positions this morning, Quantum Racing and the 1964 race winner Pagan (Peter Kerr) trailing Black Jack by 117 n/mls, appear the only threats.