Sydney to Hobart 2020: Black Jack’s Achilles heel against InfoTrack

He’s used to battling big seas and frightening conditions but there’s one thing the supermaxi skipper is seriously worried about in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Black Jack roaring up the harbour at the start of last year’s race.

He has a crew of some of the toughest ocean racers in the world but Black Jack skipper Mark Bradford is still fearful about one thing in the Sydney to Hobart.

Bradford has the team and the machine to win the Sydney to Hobart but if it blows hard he predicts it will be a one-horse race.

And that filly will be Christian Beck’s InfoTrack, a renown heavy weather performer which excelled in strong wind to beat Black Jack in Tuesday’s Big Boat race on Sydney Harbour.

It was the second time in four days InfoTrack’s team has beaten Black Jack after winnng the Cabbage Tree Island race, a qualifier for the Sydney to Hobart, on Saturday.

Black Jack and InfoTrack are polar opposites. While Black Jack excels in light winds, preferably around eight knots, InfoTrack revels in 20 plus knots of wind.

Mark Bradford and his crew racing south last year. Pic: ROLEX/Kurt Arrigo

“If it’s windy it will be a one horse race. They (InfoTrack) are preparing the boat well and last year they were second.” Bradford said.

“Our sweet spot is the light.”

Dee Why sailmaker Bradford said the boat, owned by Peter Harburg and named in honour of his friend, the late Sir Jack Brabham, is in good nick after major modifications last year, including alterations to her bow.

Black Jack took the line honours in 2009 as Alpha Romeo and was second in 2018 and fifth last year.

In 2019 Comanche, which has since been sold to an overseas buyer, won the race from InfoTrack with the skinner, lighter Wild Oats, Scallywag and Black Jack the next boats over the line.

Black Jack and Comanche make their way down the coast after the start last year.

Black Jack was due to have been sailing in the Mediterranean this season before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Bradford said a decision was made to unload the yacht off a ship en route to Europe and send it back to Australia.

“We went over to do the maxi world and it all got cancelled so we should get home. It was our best chance to race this year.” Bradford said.

“It shows Peter’s commitment to the sport, the program and this race.’’

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