Oats Rolled by Black Jack
Sunday, August 24th, 2008
Photo by Andrea Francolini
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week
By Lisa Ratcliff
Today the formula one component of the 25th anniversary Audi Hamilton Island Race Week split from the bulk of the 225 strong fleet for some thrilling round the cans action in Fitzalan Passage, to the east of Hamilton Island.
The line honours battle continued at the front end of the fleet with Peter Harburg’s Black Jack gaining the upper hand, scoring two crucial wins over the Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats X.
The 2006 built Black Jack, named after the three time formula one world champion Sir Jack Brabham in honour of his sporting achievements and launched in Brisbane last month, is a slight development of the previous Wild Oats X model.
In race 1 the two got away side by side, Black Jack finally edging out Wild Oats to finish comfortably ahead of Wild Oats X, but in the second race just a boat length separated the two at the finish, PRO Denis Thompson reporting ‘in the end it came down to the best gybe’.
Black Jack takes line honours in Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel
Thursday, August 7th, 2008
At 20:13:13 hours Sunday 3rd August Peter Harburg’s Reichel Pugh 66 Black Jack slid across the finish line of the Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race.
As this is the first running of the race to the new destination Black Jack has set a race record that’s going to be tough to beat.
They finished the race almost in complete darkness with only torches and a spectacular meteorite shower lighting the waters of Keppel Bay.
Sailing with their Code 0 at an extraordinary 6 knots in only 3 knots of easterly breeze, the crew received a shout out from spectator craft that were following their progress from this afternoon.
Skipper Mark Bradford was extremely happy with the yacht and the crew he hand-selected.
“We were pretty lucky with the wind but it does look like it has shut down for the night. We didn’t stop during the race at all which was great especially when the breeze did die right off,” said Bradford.
“As expected Black Jack is a pedigree yacht and we are really happy with her performance and that of the crew. We gelled together with the senior guys encouraging the younger crew to get involved.
“This was our first race and already the crew is improving. We are a great team who just want to go sailing. I’d give this performance 7.5 out of ten!” continued Bradford.
Sir Jack Brabham who put his famous nickname to the yacht is thrilled with their performance and wanting to know how many laps the crew had won by. Sir Jack was reminded that this was yacht racing in a straight line!
The next yacht due to finish as at the 1705 sked is Peter Goldsworthy’s Volvo 60 Getaway-Sailing.com. Bill Wild’s Hugh Welbourne 42 Wedgetail is tipped to cross the line in third. In the 2007 race that finished at Great Keppel Island, Getaway-Sailing.com were the line honours winner with Wedgetail taking out IRC and PHS.
Ray Sweeney’s Farr 11.5 Mondo were just rounding Breaksea Spit at the 1705 sked putting them at the finish line in approximately 24 hours time.
For all the latest log onto the official race website – “>www.brisbanetokeppel.com
Sir Jack launches his new campaign
Saturday, July 12th, 2008
Rivergate Marina on the Brisbane River was where the Reichel Pugh 66 Black Jack was launched today. The glorious Queensland weather and construction of the new Gateway Bridge was a spectacular backdrop for the blessing and launch.
The nickname of three time Formula One world champion Sir Jack Brabham, Black Jack was officially named after the Australian hero in honour of his sporting achievements.
“My first sailing experience was onboard a catamaran. It’s wasn’t the best day on the water, so I can’t wait to get onboard this one, just once,” said Sir Jack in his speech to the media at the launch this morning. “I think this boat might go a little faster than that catamaran though,” he laughed.
Reverend David Johnstone blessed Back Jack to safe sailing and good strength just prior to Sir Jack cracking the champagne on the bow sprit whilst wrapped in a checked flag representing Sir Jacks Formula One racing history.
“I don’t think I will get on board much and I’m happy to watch her progress from shore,” said Sir Jack just prior to being presented with a scaled half model of the yacht. “Receiving this model is a wonderful gesture, and now I can imagine her at sea taking on the elements from the safety of my home!”
Purchased by Brisbane businessman Peter Harburg two months ago from USA, Black Jack will compete in her first race in just 14 days when she hits the start line for the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Race hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. Racking up against sister ship Wild Oats X is sure to create some interest amongst the yachting fraternity. From there Black Jack will race for her home club Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in the 2nd Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race.
“We are looking forward to many fine moments aboard Black Jack as we race along the east coast of Australia,” said Harburg.
Most of the Black Jack crew were on hand this morning at the launch including skipper Mark Bradford who is honoured to take the helm of the new canting keeled racing yacht. “The launch of Black Jack is an important moment in Queensland yacht racing history and I know the crew are eager to hit the water and just go racing,” said Bradford. “We head to Sydney next Friday and the delivery from Brisbane will be a good chance to prepare the crew before racing. We have a lot to learn about this new machine so are keen to just get amongst it,” continued Bradford.
With the spotlight now focused on the actual racing the crew are prepared for anything.
“We are going up against some of the best sailors in world, so it’s important that we focus on the job at hand and get Black Jack over the line,” said skipper Bradford. “We made a promise to Sir Jack to perform in honour of his nickname. Now it’s time to give it a shot.”
Black Jack arrives in Brisbane
Monday, June 23rd, 2008
The long anticipated wait for the arrival of the Reichel Pugh 66 Black Jack is finally over for excited new owner Peter Harburg.
Formally known as Stark Raving Mad, Black Jack is the sister ship of the highly successful racing yacht Wild Oats X.
The yacht was loaded onto the ship that brought her to Australia in California and after 23 days at sea she is finally home to the Sunshine State.
Boat manager Mark Demilio is now conversing with crew and prepares to strip the yacht and prepare her for racing before sailing her to Sydney on the 19th of July.
“Most of the crew will be on board for the delivery from Brisbane to Sydney to prepare for the Sydney to Southport race,” said Demilio. “It’s our chance to give the yacht a good shakedown!”
The crew of Black Jack include America’s Cup sailors Craig Monk and Mark Bradford, who is set to skipper Harburg’s new 66’ canter.
Black Jack’s website will launch soon with a racing schedule, crew line up and photo gallery thanks to sailing enthusiasts and local Brisbane web designers The Globecast and SAILINGphotos.net