Black Jack

Peter Harburg purchased the former Alfa Romeo/Esimet Europa in mid-2017 and finished 3mins 31secs behind Wild Oats XI in the 2017 Sydney Gold Coast race – the closest finish in 16 years.  In the same race in 2018, took line honours from WOXI, Comanche and InfoTrack.  Looked strong in the 2019 Sydney Hobart as she approached Tasman Island, but Black Jack crossed fifth over the line of the five supers, in a close finish.  In a thriller in 2018, she finished second on line after a race-long battle with the other supers – the top four were just four miles apart – this after placing third on line in 2017, inside Perpetual Loyal’s 2016 record.  Also took line honours in the 2018 and 2019 Brisbane Gladstone races but was dismasted in 2021 while leading the race.

As Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo, she took line honours from Wild Oats XI in the 2009 Hobart.  Under her former two names, the RP100 claimed 150 plus line honours wins around the world and broke the 2009 Transpac Race record.  Before buying the 100 footer, Harburg enjoyed success with other Black Jacks, including the RP66 renamed ‘Alive’; which won the 2018 Sydney Hobart under current owner, Phillip Turner, and a modified VOR70 previously known as Telefonica.

Competitor Details