Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race

The Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race is held annually, starting on Good Friday. The premier blue water classic begins from Shorncliffe in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, and finishes in Gladstone Harbour. Yachts compete for the Courier Mail Cup, one of the oldest perpetual trophies in Australia that has been competed for on a continual basis. The finish is hosted by the Port Curtis Sailing Club.

Single hull Yachts waiting for Shorncliffe starters gun, 2016

The location of each yacht can be tracked online.[1]

In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as an "event and festival".[2]

History

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The Queensland Cruising Yacht Club was established in 1948 to organise the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race. The first race was held during Easter 1949.[3] The first race saw seven vessels start, two of which carried radios while Brisbane’s Homing Pigeon Club supplied pigeons to the others for position reporting. Each yacht issued with birds was to release two each day.

The race record of 16 hours, 53 minutes and 57 seconds was set by Black Jack in 2018.[4]

The 2020 race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

In 2023, the race marked its 75th anniversary with a fleet of 47 vessels competing.[1]

Course

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The course leads the yachts northwards from the start line at the Shorncliffe pier to a turning mark off Redcliffe before joining the main channel out of Moreton Bay. Yachts leave Fraser Island to port before passing Breaksea spit and then leaving Lady Elliot Island to port. The final stage of the race is often the hardest as the yachts make their way up Gladstone Harbour to the finish line just outside Auckland Creek.

Winners

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Year Line Honors winner Courier Mail Cup winner PHRF/THCF Handicap winner IRC Handicap winner IOR Handicap winner – ORCi from 2012 IMS Handicap winner – Shorthanded from 2016 Arbitrary Handicap winner – Vintage after 2008 Channel Handicap winner – Veteran after 2000 Cruising winner
1949 Sea Prince Sea Prince Sea Prince - - - - - -
1948 Kyeema Kyeema Kyeema - - - - - -
1951 Norseman Norseman Norseman - - - - - -
1952 Alvis Norseman Norseman - - - - - -
1953 Alvis Joybird Joybird - - - - - -
1954 Alvis Norseman Norseman - - - - - -
1955 Flying Saucer Norseman Norseman - - - - - -
1956 Alvis Norseman Norseman - - - - - -
1957 Alvis Bluenose Bluenose - - - - - -
1958 Solo Solo Solo - - - - - -
1959 Solo Solo Solo - - - - - -
1960 Solo Mouse Of Malham Mouse Of Malham - - - - - -
1961 Nocturne Cimba Cimba - - - - - -
1962 Solo Norla Norla - - - - - -
1963 Solo Mouse Of Malham Mouse Of Malham - - - - - -
1964 Ilina Pagan Pagan - - - - - -
1965 Ilina Valhalla Valhalla - - - - - -
1966 Mr Christian Mister Christian Mister Christian - - - - - -
1967 Laurabada Kurura Kurura - - - - - -
1968 Ilina Sequana Sequana - - - - - -
1969 Sundowner Sundowner Sundowner - - - - - -
1970 Christina Christina Christina - - - - - -
1971 Caprice Of Huon Wistari Wistari - - - - - -
1972 Kintama Harmony Harmony - - - - - -
1973 Apollo Rum Runner Rum Runner - - - - - -
1974 Apollo Malalla Malalla - - - - - -
1975 Ballyhoo Ballyhoo Ballyhoo - - - - - -
1976 Helsal Wistari Wistari - - - - - -
1977 Natelle II Wistari Wistari - - - - - -
1978 Apollo Nyamba Nyamba - - - - - -
1979 Apollo Incredible - - Incredible - Enid - Fortitude
1980 Fanny Adams Diamond Cutter - - Diamond Cutter - Helena - Fortitude
1981 Siska II Beach Inspector - - Beach Inspector - Helena - Fortitude
1982 Apollo Wistari - - Wistari - Enid - Caretta
1983 Apollo Di Hard - - Di Hard - Courtisane - Fortitude
1984 Apollo Scampi A - - Scampi A - Status Quo - Fortitude
1985 The Office Public Nuisance - - Public Nuisance - Eye Witness - Envy II
1986 Windward Passage Saltash II - - Saltash II - Bolero - Norseman Q
1987 Castaway Enterprise Sellers Witchcraft II - - Sellers Witchcraft II - Boundary Rider - -
1988 Hammer Of Queensland Scampi Awlgrip - - Scampi Awlgrip - Rager Fine Cotton -
1989 The Innkeeper Leroy Brown - - Leroy Brown - Troopship Alfa Power Silver Shadow
1990 Bobsled The Gambler - - The Gambler Zap Jacqui - Nauges
1991 Hammer Of Queensland Leroy Brown - - Leroy Brown Phoenix Lets Go - Skimmer
1992 Bobsled Saltash II - - Saltash II Corrobboree Montego - Laurabada
1993 Bobsled Saltash II - - Saltash II Outsider Air Apparent - Laurabada
1994 Innkeeper Petaluma Wines Odette - - - Odette Escape - Fortress
1995 Colorado Bobsled Millennium - - - Millennium Fortress - Impetuous
1996 Hammer Of Queensland Restless - - - Restless Springloaded - Maggie IV
1997 Foxtel Amazon No Fearr - - - No Fearr White Ice - White Ice
1998 Hammer Of Queensland Quest Scampi A - - Quest - - Seaduction
1999 Nortress G-Whizz Saltash II Wistari - - Saltash II Wistari Sea Noble Engineering Grey Seal
2000 Nortress G-Whizz Scampi A Exocet Scampi A - - - Exocet Koomooloo
2001 Grundig Xena Saltash II Belle Saltash II - Saltash II - Saltash II Pagan
2002 Grundig Grundig Gemini Dream Grundig - Saltash II - Sassy -
2003 Grundig Saltash II Ichi Ban Saltash II - Saltash II - Dancing Lady Meltemi
2004 Skandia AAPT Kickatinalong AAPT - Ichi Ban - Kickatinalong -
2005 AAPT Saltash II Lady Katherine Saltash II - Saltash II - Kickatinalong -
2006 Heaven Can Wait Corum Heaven Can Wait Corum - - - Lloyd Brokers Too Impetuous Marriah
2007 Ichi Ban Saltash II Baltic Saltash II - - - Saltash II WomenRace4Redkite South Passage
2008 Ichi Ban Quantum Racing Ryugin FGI Quantum Racing - - - Sassy Sunshine Sailing Australia
2009 Black Jack 66 Quantum Racing Shogun Quantum Racing - - Pagan Mondo Seafarer 4
2010 Black Jack 66 Wedgetail Zulu Chief Wedgetail - - - Sassy Eressea
2011 Lahana Hooligan Too Impetuous Hooligan - - - Too Impetuous Eressea
2012 Wild Thing Black Jack 66 Marriah Black Jack 66 Black Jack 66 - - Marriah Eressea
2013 Wild Thing Wedgetail Wedgetail Wedgetail Immigrant - - The Gambler South Passage
2014 Black Jack 77 Alive Alive Alive Alive - - Wistari Eressea
2015 Black Jack 77 Black Jack 77 Black Jack 77 Black Jack 77 Alive - - Corrobboree South Passage
2016 Black Jack 77[6] Black Jack 77 Mr Kite Black Jack 77 Corrobboree Apriori - Corrobboree Marriah
2017[7] Black Jack Ichi Ban Flying Colours 2 Ichi Ban Alive Apriori - Flying Colours 2 Marriah
2018[8] Black Jack Ichi Ban Fusion Ichi Ban Ichi Ban Apriori Wistari Argus Team Hollywood
2019 Black Jack Envy Scooters Kerisma Envy Scooters Envy Scooters Dreamlover - Sassy Pagan
2020 Race Cancelled Race Cancelled Race Cancelled Race Cancelled Race Cancelled Race Cancelled Race Cancelled Race Cancelled Race Cancelled
2021 Maritimo Wistari Wistari Wistari Wistari Wistari Coopers
  •   Skandia's race record of 20 hours, 24 minutes, 50 seconds
  •   Most Line Honors wins – Apollo
  •   Most Courier Mail Cup wins – Saltash II
  •   Most PHRF/THCF Handicap wins - Norseman
  •   Most IRC Handicap wins - Saltash II
  •   Most IOR Handicap wins - Saltash II
  •   Most IMS Handicap wins - Saltash II
  •   Most Arbitrary Handicap wins - Helena/Enid Tie
  •   Most Cruising Handicap wins – Fortitude

Consecutive participation

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Laurabada raced 51 Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht races, sailing 43 with her builder Ivan Holm Snr at the helm and 8 races with Ivan Holm Jnr as skipper. The majestic ketch contested her 50th race in 2002 and 51st race in 2018. Wistari has now sailed 52 Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Races as of 2022, sailing 28 with her designer and builder Noel Patrick at the helm and 24 with son Scott Patrick as skipper.[citation needed]

Multiple Courier Mail Cup winners

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  • Saltash II (Ian and Bill Wright) 1986, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
    • Fastest corrected time, 1993: 21 hours 15 minutes 54 seconds (race record)
    • Average handicap rated speed: 14.48 knots
  • Norseman (A Wilson) 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956 (Handicap)
    • Fastest corrected time 1955: 29 h 5 min 06 s
  • Wistari (Noel Patrick, Scott Patrick) 1971, 1976, 1977, 1982, 2021
    • Fastest corrected time 1976: 26 h 01 min 24 s
  • Scampi A (Ross Perrins, Colin Loel) 1984, 1988, 2000
    • Fastest corrected time 1988: 28 h 42 min 07 s
  • Solo (Vic Meyer) 1958, 1959 (Line Honours and Handicap winner)
    • Fastest corrected time 1958: 27 h 48 min 37 s
  • Leroy Brown (Warren Wieckmann) 1989, 1991
    • Fastest corrected time 1991: 40 h 07 min 24 s
  • Mouse Of Malham (Bill Dayan-Smith, Norman R Wright Jnr) 1960, 1963
    • Fastest corrected time 1963: 29 h 31 min 24 s
  • Quantum Racing (Ray Roberts) 2008, 2009
    • Fastest corrected time 2008: 35 h 08 min 44 s
  • Wedgetail (Bill Wild) 2010, 2013
    • Fastest corrected time 2010: 34 h 44 min 45 s
  • Black Jack no.77 (Peter Harburg) 2015, 2016 Fastest corrected time 2015: 50 h 55 min 11 s

Multiple winning skippers

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  • Jack Rooklyn (Apollo) 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979 (Ballyhoo) 1975 (Maxi Apollo) 1982, 1983, 1984
    • Fastest elapsed time 1982, Maxi Apollo: 29 hours 46 minutes 56 seconds
  • Fred Markwell (Alvis) 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956,1957
    • Fastest elapsed time 1956: 48 h 29 min 29 s
  • Vic Meyer (Solo)1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963
    • Fastest elapsed time 1958: 34 h 52 min 50 s
  • Arthur Bloore (The Office) 1985, (Hammer Of Queensland) 1988, 1991, 1996, 1998
    • Fastest elapsed time 1988: 29 h 53 min 47 s
  • Sean Langman (Grundig Xena, Grundig, AAPT - all the same boat) 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
    • Fastest elapsed time 2004: 20 h 36 min 48 s
  • Kerry Spencer (Bobsled) 1992, 1993, 1995
    • Fastest elapsed time 1993: 21 h 59 min 43 seconds
  • Mark Bradford (Black Jack – two different boats with the same name) 2012, 2015, 2016
    • Fastest correct time 2012: 36 h 15 min 56 s
  • Rupert Murdoch (Ilina) 1964, 1965
    • Fastest elapsed time 1964: 33 h 23 min 54 s
  • Robert Bird (Bobsled) co-skipper 1993, 1995
    • Fastest elapsed time 1993: 21 h 59 min 43 s
  • Bill Wild (Wedgetail) 2010, 2013
    • Fastest correct time 2010: 34 h 44 min 45 s

Fastest time to complete the course

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Black Jack 100

  • 2018 course time: 16h 53min 57s
  • Average speed: 18.23 knots

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Iorio, Kelsie (7 April 2023). "Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race to set sail in 75th year despite wild weather forecast". ABC News. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  2. ^ Bligh, Anna (10 June 2009). "PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Queensland Cruising Yacht Club". Queensland Cruising Yacht Club. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  4. ^ Loftus, Tobi (14 April 2022). "Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race set to boost tourism in regional city after COVID-19 downturn". ABC News. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  5. ^ Jurss-Lewis, Tobias; Hines, Jasmine (1 April 2021). "Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race bounces back from the brink of cancellation for second year running". ABC News. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  6. ^ Jonathan Hair. (26 March 2016). Black Jack wins in 2016 for the third year in a row. ABC News. Retrieved 3 January 2024
  7. ^ "2017 Race Results". 71st Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  8. ^ "2018 Race Results". 71st Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
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