Black Jack has wind in its sails

Black Jack skipper Mark Bradford on board his boat, which is the Brisbane to Gladstone favourite. Source: Chris Higgins / News Limited

BRISBANE to Gladstone favourite Black Jack's greatest threat for line and handicap honours is itself.

Or, more precisely, owner Peter Haburg's new Volvo 70 design must see off its predecessor to raise The Courier Mail Cup as overall winner in the 66th running of the race which starts at 11am tomorrow off the Shorncliffe Pier.

Skipper Mark Bradford last year guided the previous Black Jack, a 66ft former American pocket maxi, to second place behind super maxi Wild Thing.

It had been rated Australia's fastest 66ft bluewater yacht and had won line honours in the 2008 and 2009 Brisbane to Gladstone races.

Bradford is back, this time skippering a faster Black Jack, a 70ft two-time Volvo Ocean Race entrant formerly known as Telefonica.

The previous model, now owned by Phillip Turner and skippered by Duncan Hine, will race as Alive.

The two maxi-chasers are set to shadow each other up the Queensland coast in pursuit of the record of 20 hours, 40 minutes and 50 seconds.

"The boat we've got has the potential to break speed records. We're talking about 500 or more nautical miles in a day," Bradford said.

With no entry from Wild Thing this year, the two ocean racing sloop's will be free to launch a major assault on the race record.

Bradford is enthusiastic over the capabilities of Black Jack, having finished fourth behind winner Wild Oats XI in December's Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

A month later, Black Jack smashed the Surf to City record by three hours, completing the inshore journey from Southport to Brisbane in less than seven hours.

Expected light conditions could, however, thwart attempts to create history as the fastest boat in the 570km (308 nautical miles) race.

Unless local conditions change dramatically, the 30 entries are facing no more than a 10-knot wind, raising hopes of the smaller entries who, with some tactical nous, could stage a shock result.

"Anyone can sail a boat downwind in heavy conditions," said race director Herb Prendergast.

"You just have to hang on.

"But it looks like being the lightest conditions in years, anda very tactical race."

Prendergast is hoping the fleet will make it out of Moreton Bay on the ebb tide.

The big decision for skippers overnight will be whether to hug the coast or head offshore, with a wind shadow from Double Island Point to Sandy Cape likely affect those close to the coast.

"There's an advantage if you get out at the front of the fleet," Bradford said.

"If you're not out clearly, the light air and chop from the spectator craft can be a problem."

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