Black Jack

Previously known asStark Raving Mad, Black Jack is a near-sistership to the highly successful Wild Oats X, and the two have crossed swords on many occasions with almost even results. Owner Peter Harburg and his champion skipper Mark Bradford (who was in the afterguard of Investec Loyal which took line honours last year) have produced solid results, including line and overall honours in the 2008 and 2009 Brisbane-Keppel races, in which they broke their own 2008 race record in 2009, in the new time of 29 hours 24 minutes 11 seconds.

Named for Harburg's friend, Jack Brabham, the boat was sixth across the line in the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart (her last adventure south) and went on to win back to back line honours in the Brisbane to Gladstone race (2009 and 2010). In August, Bradford skippered the canting keeler to second over the line and recorded the second fastest time ever in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, breaking Brindabella's(a conventionally ballasted yacht) 13 year-old record. Black Jack can now claim the second fastest time for the Open record after finishing in 26hrs 24mins 2 secs. She was also the first Queensland boat home.

Competitor Details