Fair winds for Brisbane to Gladstone

“Skippers and crews range from top tier sailing professionals who compete throughout the world to family-owned race yachts and credit to all our entrants – each and every race yacht is brilliantly campaigned.

“Our entrants undergo onerous safety and legal compliance to be able to compete, a process that is diligently managed by the QCYC race officials’ team.

“Furthermore, our team keeps a close eye on seasonal performances to ensure the race handicap system accurately represents the capability of each vessel according to its design, which is then measured against performance with our yachts competing for the overall prize, considered one of the holy grails of Australian sailing – The Courier-Mail Cup.

“We are thrilled to once again be live-streaming the race to the world thanks to our sponsor, Gladstone Regional Council and their Easter in Gladstone campaign so people can watch the race from anywhere around the globe.

“Last year, our statistics showed the live stream reached a global audience in excess of 61,000.”

Line honours is expected to be battled out amongst the current race record holder, Black Jack helmed by Mark Bradford and first-time entrant Stefan, with skipper Grant Wharington, along with Alive and skipper Duncan Hine. Black Jack’s current race record of 16 hours, 53 minutes and 57 seconds has stood since 2018.

Black Jack has now returned to Queensland after making history as the first ever Queensland boat to take line honours in the Sydney Hobart.

Originally scheduled to head to Europe at the end of this month and miss the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, Black Jack changed tack due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the boat now remaining in the country to contest the Australian sailing season.

The winner on handicap will come down to masterful sailing, with numerous past winners amongst the 2022 race fleet.

Five-time winner of the Courier-Mail Cup, the Gladstone based Wistari, with Scott Patrick at the helm, has entered for a sixth crack at the title.

Ichi Ban, winner of the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race in 2017 will also be a hot contender with veteran skipper, Matt Allen leading the boat’s charge to Gladstone.

Many other yachts who have taken past honours or placings in the history of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race are entered, including Kerisima with skipper Christopher Larsen and Italian Job, with skipper Michael Johnston, to name a few.

From the start line, which is located approximately two nautical miles east of Shorncliffe Pier, the yachts proceed via a mark off Redcliffe Point to the North West Channel up to Caloundra and through to Gladstone.

The race start will once again be live-streamed, including pre-race commentary which is proudly supported by Gladstone Regional Council’s Easter in Gladstone. There will also be an interactive Race Tracker.

The Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race is steeped in history and was first ever sailed in Easter 1949 where seven vessels took the start line, two of which carried radios, while Brisbane’s Homing Pigeon Club supplied pigeons for the other competing vessels.

brisbanetogladstone.com