admin posted on April 08, 2010 14:41
Peter Harburg’s Black Jack completed another impressive line honours win in the Brisbane to Gladstone race yesterday. The power sailing 20m maxi chaser led from start to finish completing back to back victories in Queensland’s premier ocean race. Her crew again expressed a high workload of sail changing in a major bid to claim the race record in a wind strength which proved ideal for all but the final 80 nautical miles of the 308 n/ml classic.
They were in good shape reaching the exit from Moreton Bay with the fastest ever time on Good Friday afternoon then continued to spreadeagle the fleet with an unmatched exhibition of power sailing in ideal record challenging conditions.
Black Jack continued to leave a white water wake reaching speed to 22 knots while her crew worked relentlessly as the sloop continued to track a fast pace off the ocean beach of Fraser Island.
She was over an hour ahead of the record when
she weathered the half way point of Indian Head shortly before 10 on Friday night. “It was a wild but very enjoyable ride”. Proud owner Peter Harburg said. While skipper Mark Bradford complimented the effort of his crew who cleverly executed a high number of sail changes. “I personally lost count of the times a sail was hauled on deck”. Mark Bradford said.
Unfortunately their promising challenge to beat the 20 hour 24 minute 50 second record set by the Grant Wharington skippered Skandia Wild Thing in 2004 fell behind the pace after they weathered Lady Elliot Island.
However her crew were rewarded when they crossed the finish line to secure back to back victories while the smaller Brisbane sloop Wedgetail staged a boat on boat drag race up Gladstone Harbour against the Hamilton Island Yacht Club sloop Nikon Spirit of the Maid to decide the minor places which almost resulted in a dead heat with Nikon Spirit of the Maid holding on to claim second place by 1 second.