Black Jack

This is the V70 to beat. She retired from the 2015 Hobart as Peter Harburg leg was badly broken in heavy seas, but Black Jack finished the previous two Hobarts. She was fifth on line in 2014, only 13 minutes behind Ragamuffin 100 (third on line), and two minutes behind fourth placed RIO 100. A quick yacht off the wind, the former Telefonica was fourth on line in the 2013 Hobart, defeating Giacomo by two places and just 2mins 17secs on line. She recorded her third consecutive line honours in the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race this year and was second on line to Wild Oats XI in the 2016 Sydney Gold Coast race and again in the the 2016 Club Marine Brisbane Keppel race.

Early in 2015, Black Jack underwent modifications to improve light weather performance. She was tested in the light to moderate wind Gold Coast Race that year, finishing second on line (to Perpetual Loyal) and third overall. Then Harburg’s boat trailed his former RP66 Black Jack (now Alive) in the shifty and light Brisbane Keppel race by nearly five hours, finishing second on line. The two V70’s Black Jack beat by a good margin in the Gold Coast Race will be on the Sydney Hobart start line: Giacomo and Maserati. Crew member Bruce Clark will make it a milestone 25 Hobarts this year. 

Competitor Details