LAND ROVER SYDNEY GOLD COAST YACHT RACE

Worldwide coordination and attention to detail matched with on-point crew work gave super yacht Black Jack a chance to raise the bar.

The refurbished 30-metre racer, originally launched as Alfa Romeo in 2005, finished just three minutes behind its near-identical rival, Wild Oats XI, despite only going back in the water a week before the race, and hoisting her new sails just hours before the starting gun. Black Jack 100 had recently returned to Australia after being laid up for more than a year in Europe, and been reconfigured for its new owner, Brisbane yachtsman Peter Harburg. Mark Bradford of North Sails Brisbane, the yacht’s sailing master, says a new set of sails was required, designed and manufactured by North in the United States, and shaped and finished by the North Sails Auckland loft. “The geometry had been changed, with the forestay moved forward. The boat also has a new rig and boom from Southern Spars, so we couldn’t just press ‘plot’ and make the same sails as it had before,” says Mark. “There was a real synergy between North and Southern to get the sails to fit exactly right.” So exactly right that when the 370 square metre mainsail was first hoisted — just two hours before the race start — it fitted perfectly. “Usually we would have two or three days to fit such a big sail, but when we went out the day before it was too windy to check it out. We hoisted the mainsail with two hours to go and found no adjustments needed to be made, which is a real credit to everyone involved.” The next challenge was upwind sails: the brand-new number two was hoisted on the way out to the start, and the new number-one jib went up for the first time about two hours into the race. “Both Black Jack and Wild Oats changed jibs on the same tack, and once again, that sail which had never been up before fitted first time,” says Mark. And so what had been intended largely as a delivery trip — to get the boat up to Queensland for Hamilton Island Race Week — turned into a real race, as the two maxis duelled their way up the coast, exchanging a narrow lead several times. “We were still trying to feel our way through the boat and work out systems, but it turned into a real battle,” says Mark. “Wild Oats were within eyesight the whole way and we were pretty stoked to be in the same patch of water, considering how new the set-up was.” Black Jack was also carrying a new J5 and J6, and a new A3, which didn’t get out of the bag in the upwind conditions. The boat’s next big outing — and battle with Wild Oats — will come at Hamilton Island, where America’s Cup and Olympic sailor Tom Slingsby will be part of the crew. “We’re really going to ramp it up there,” says Mark. “Our expectations have changed a bit now — we’ve gone from getting the boat back on the water and seeing how it goes to being seriously competitive.”

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04 June

NORTH SAILS AND YACHT CLUB ITALIANO CONSOLIDATE LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP

From sailmaking to performance apparel: an evolving partnership geared up for future challenges. North Sails and the Yacht Club Italiano are proud to announce the formal expansion of their long-standing relationship into a comprehensive long-term partnership. This agreement officially designates North Sails as the Official Technical Partner for both sailmaking and performance apparel, marking a new chapter in a collaboration built on decades of mutual respect and shared maritime values. The partnership, which extends through 2030, is not a beginning, but rather an evolution of the existing bond between the two organizations. By formalizing this alliance, North Sails and Yacht Club Italiano aim to align their goals ahead of the Club’s historic 150th Anniversary, creating a robust technical ecosystem that serves the Club’s members, elite athletes, and international racing calendar. Alessio Razeto, North Sails Sales Director, emphasized the organic nature of this development: "Our relationship with the Yacht Club Italiano goes beyond a simple collaboration; it is built on years of friendship, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to promoting sailing among young sailors. Today, this partnership is further strengthened with the addition of North Sails Apparel, expanding opportunities forcollaboration and mutual growth. We look ahead with great enthusiasm to the upcoming season, which promises a calendar of high-profile events that will best showcase and enhance this shared journey." This consolidated partnership reinforces North Sails' position at the heart of the Italian racing scene. By expanding its role to include technical apparel alongside its world-leading sail technology, North Sails will provide comprehensive support as the technical partner to the Yacht Club Italiano, organizer of iconic regattas such as the Loro Piana Giraglia, Genova Sailing Week, Bombola d’Oro, and Millevele IREN. “North Sails has been a valued partner of Yacht Club Italiano for many years through its sailmaking division, supporting our sporting activities and sharing our commitment to excellence in sailing,” said Carlo Cameli, President of Yacht Club Italiano. “We are very pleased to welcome North Sails Apparel into this collaboration, further strengthening the relationship between our two organizations. This new agreement represents an important opportunity to enhance the experience of our members, athletes and events, while continuing to promote the values, tradition and innovation that define both North Sails and Yacht Club Italiano.” The core of this extended union is the seamless integration of advanced sail aerodynamics with ergonomic apparel design. This "360-degree" approach ensures that the technical requirements of the modern sailor are met both on and off the water. "Formalizing our partnership with the Yacht Club Italiano is a natural step forward in our shared history," stated Cedric Georges, CEO of North Sails Apparel. "Moving beyond our established rapport, this agreement allows us to work even more closely on innovation and performance. We are proud to support the Club as it navigates toward its 150th anniversary and beyond." With a shared history as their foundation and innovation as their compass, North Sails and the Yacht Club Italiano are united by a unified vision. As preparations begin for the upcoming racing season and the milestone celebrations ahead, this partnership stands as a testament to their enduring dedication to the sport of sailing and the global yachting community.

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