By Ian Grant.
Black Jack
World champion Sydney yachtsman Iain Murray and Brisbane’s Mark Bradford will enter into a fiercely competitive match race in the 384n/ml Audi Sydney to Gold coast starting off Watsons Bay on Saturday.
The clash billed as a State Of Origin war on the water has become the talking point between the rival New South Wales and Queensland crews since Iain Murray became the nominated skipper to represent the famed Wild Oats ‘Battle Flag’ against the equally impressive Peter Harburg owned Queensland champion Black Jack.
Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats X normally skippered by the triumphant Rolex Sydney Hobart record breaking helmsman Mark Richards presently trails Black Jack by one race in their head to head short course races at the past two Audi Hamilton Island Race Weeks.
However the Iain Murray profile which stands tall in the history of International yacht racing including winning a record number of 18ft skiff World championships and representing Australia at the 2008 Olympic regatta in Beijing is a tough tactical nut to crack.
Mark Bradford speaking for the Black Jack racing team said “Our crew are up for the challenge”.
They completely understand that the commitment for success will involve a supreme endurance test and an error free tactical strategy to reach Southport’s Main Beach finish line ahead of their equally determined match racing rivals.
This clash between the two almost identical American designed pocket-maxi class ocean racing sloops will begin in the prestart with both crews then remaining on deck fighting for a marginal advantage in boat speed in their personal bid to celebrate the ‘bragging rites’ over a few frosted XXXX at the Southport Yacht Club bar.
Wild Oats X which completed the 2009 race with a 3 hour 2 second speed advantage has understandably been nominated as the pre race favourite.
But Iain Murray and the ‘new look’ Wild Oats X crew have far too much respect for their Queensland challenger to happily rest with the result from 12 months ago.
Both skipper Iain Murray and crew will need to be on guard to protect their sailing space with the Black Jack crew developing more experience of sailing the exciting fast lane racer to her potential as evidenced during their fast 14.08 knot average set in securing a runaway line honours victory in the Brisbane to Gladstone race over the Easter weekend.
Meanwhile all interest will focus on what promises to become a physically demanding ‘dog-fight’ between two evenly matched crews who will continue with their match racing duel into the final of the 2010 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week on August 28th.
However before then their spray deflecting sailing suits will have limited time to dry out before they face up to another gruelling challenge over the 348 nautical mile Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Bay race on Friday August 6 where Black Jack who remains as the undefeated line honours champion and race record holder will race under a serious threat from her New South Wales challenger.