Outimage Australia - 61st Brisbane to Gladsone - Black Jack leads Gladstone Fleet.

The outimage dot net ocean yacht racing banner is an image of Roger Sturgeon's Transpac 65 Rosbud from the United States, working up Hobart's Derwent River into the late afternoon to take out an overall win of the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The photograph was taken by Peter Andrews.

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Black Jack leads Gladstone Fleet
By Ian Grant, Queensland Cruising Yacht Club
11:30 AEST April 10, 2009.

2009 Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race icon.

The impressively fast Brisbane pocket-maxi Black Jack skippered by Americas Cup sailor Mark Bradford established a comfortable line honours lead in the 308 n/ml Brisbane to Gladstone Race earlier today.

Skipper Bradford wisely elected to start in clear wind midway down the line which allowed the Black Jack crew to generate unmatched speed in the 12 knot South East breeze while the smaller yachts in the 48 yacht fleet presented a log jam at the windward end of the line.

Peter Harburg 's Reichel - Pugh 66 Black Jack, racing offshore Sydney during the 2008 Rolex Trophy Ratings Series.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

Peter Harburg 's Reichel - Pugh 66 Black Jack, racing offshore Sydney during the 2008 Rolex Trophy Ratings Series. Photo copyright Peter Andrews.

The Black Jack crew kept their tactical options open to tack down wind and were reported to have logged speed in excess of 15 knots on the initial 5 nautical mile leg to round the Garnett Rock Beacon.

As expected Black Jack continued to stretch her margin while the smaller Quantum Racing, Wot Now, Shogun and Wot Yot continued to stage a much closer battle for the minor places.

Ray Roberts' Cookson 50 Quantum Racing with Geff Ross' Reichel Pugh 55 Yendys in the background aproaching the heads after the start of the 2007 Audi Sydney to Gold Coast - Mackay Yacht Race.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

All of the top 10 leading yachts which also included the Bill Wild skippered Wedgetail continued to log consistent speed in a building breeze as they tacked upwind to enter the North West shipping channel near the Tangalooma Resort.

There was an early casualty when Murray Bucknall’s Melbourne to Osaka race winner Ryujin FGI terminated a spinnaker in the opening two nautical miles.

Graeme Wood's TP52 Wot Now, outside the heads after the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2008.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

Graeme Wood's TP52 Wot Now, outside the heads after the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2008. Photo copyright Peter Andrews.

A small split quickly became a complete blow out leaving the crew to recover the tattered sail.

Based on her present speed race leader Black Jack is expected to exit Moreton Bay via the Caloundra Fairway Buoy by 3 pm followed by the 2008 overall race winner Quantum Racing, Wot Now, Shogun and Wot Yot.

They all will be well clear of Moreton Bay and setting a spinnaker sailing course along the Sunshine Coast when the rest of the fleet face the first run of the flood tide which will slow their progress and hamper their chances to win on overall handicap.

Rob Hanna's Cookson 50 Shogun, dockside in Hobart after completing the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2008.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

Rob Hanna's Cookson 50 Shogun, dockside in Hobart after completing the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2008. Photo copyright Peter Andrews.

Race Officials are expecting the prevailing easterly wind to increase to 20 knots and provide the fleet leaders with a chance to outpace their handicap ratings over night.

Skippered by Bill Sykes in the 61st Brisbane to Gladstone, Graeme Wood's TP52 Wot Yot running down to Fort Denison on Sydney Harbour during the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge 2008.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

For further information including a list of yachts entered in the 2009 Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, go to the official race site http://www.brisbanetogladstone.com.au

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