Australian Yachting Welcomes New Challenger

May 21st, 2008

Photo by Mark Bradford

On behalf of Black Jack Yachting

The Australian yachting fraternity will welcome a new resident next month with the arrival of the Reichel Pugh 66 Stark Raving Mad that was recently purchased by Brisbane yachtsman Peter Harburg.

Built in 2006 at Westerly Marine in California, she is the sister ship to well known and very successful racer Wild Oats X.

Honorary Patron Sir Jack Brabham, triple world champion and only Formula One driver to have won a world title in a car of his own construction, is a close personal friend of Harburg’s and the racing yacht will be renamed Black Jack in honour of Sir Jack’s sporting achievements. Earlier this year, ‘Sir Jack was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for services to motor sport as an ambassador, mentor and promoter of safety and to the community through support of charitable organisations’. Now his interests have expanded to yacht racing.

Due to be ready to race for the Sydney to Southport, Black Jack will then campaign for her home club Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron for the 2nd Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race before meeting Wild Oats X on the start line at Hamilton Island Race Week.

The Black Jack crew will include Vaughan Prentice as Sailing Coordinator and Mark Bradford as Skipper both from the North Sails Brisbane Loft. Popular Sydney yachtsman Peter “Billy” Merrington from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club will be Tactician and Mark Demilio has the position of Project Manager. Harburg, together with Bradford have begun to assemble a talented crew of both youth and experienced sailors. The key positions are to be filled by Queensland yachtsman.

This is an exciting edition to the quality Australian racing fleet and Black Jack will raise the bar for Queensland yachting. The crew are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead as they prepare Black Jack for racing.

Harburg is also the owner of Spirit of Queensland (formally AAPT/Grundig) however the purchase of Black Jack will offer him and his crew the chance to race competitively against Australia’s finest yachts.

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