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.

The location of each yacht can be tracked online.

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".

History 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. 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.

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

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

Course 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 YearLine Honors winnerCourier Mail Cup winnerPHRF/THCF Handicap winnerIRC Handicap winnerIOR Handicap winner – ORCi from 2012IMS Handicap winner – Shorthanded from 2016Arbitrary Handicap winner – Vintage after 2008Channel Handicap winner – Veteran after 2000Cruising winner1949Sea PrinceSea PrinceSea Prince------1948KyeemaKyeemaKyeema------1951NorsemanNorsemanNorseman------1952AlvisNorsemanNorseman------1953AlvisJoybirdJoybird------1954AlvisNorsemanNorseman------1955Flying SaucerNorsemanNorseman------1956AlvisNorsemanNorseman------1957AlvisBluenoseBluenose------1958SoloSoloSolo------1959SoloSoloSolo------1960SoloMouse Of MalhamMouse Of Malham------1961NocturneCimbaCimba------1962SoloNorlaNorla------1963SoloMouse Of MalhamMouse Of Malham------1964IlinaPaganPagan------1965IlinaValhallaValhalla------1966Mr ChristianMister ChristianMister Christian------1967LaurabadaKururaKurura------1968IlinaSequana Sequana------1969SundownerSundownerSundowner------1970ChristinaChristinaChristina------1971Caprice Of HuonWistariWistari------1972KintamaHarmonyHarmony------1973ApolloRum RunnerRum Runner------1974ApolloMalallaMalalla------1975BallyhooBallyhooBallyhoo------1976HelsalWistariWistari------1977Natelle IIWistariWistari------1978ApolloNyambaNyamba------1979ApolloIncredible --Incredible-Enid-Fortitude1980Fanny AdamsDiamond Cutter--Diamond Cutter-Helena-Fortitude1981Siska IIBeach Inspector--Beach Inspector-Helena-Fortitude1982ApolloWistari--Wistari-Enid-Caretta1983ApolloDi Hard--Di Hard-Courtisane-Fortitude1984ApolloScampi A--Scampi A-Status Quo-Fortitude1985The OfficePublic Nuisance--Public Nuisance-Eye Witness-Envy II1986Windward PassageSaltash II--Saltash II-Bolero-Norseman Q1987Castaway EnterpriseSellers Witchcraft II--Sellers Witchcraft II-Boundary Rider--1988Hammer Of QueenslandScampi Awlgrip--Scampi Awlgrip-RagerFine Cotton-1989The InnkeeperLeroy Brown--Leroy Brown-TroopshipAlfa PowerSilver Shadow1990BobsledThe Gambler--The GamblerZapJacqui-Nauges1991Hammer Of QueenslandLeroy Brown--Leroy BrownPhoenixLets Go-Skimmer1992BobsledSaltash II--Saltash IICorrobboreeMontego-Laurabada1993BobsledSaltash II--Saltash IIOutsiderAir Apparent-Laurabada1994Innkeeper Petaluma WinesOdette---OdetteEscape-Fortress1995Colorado BobsledMillennium---MillenniumFortress-Impetuous1996Hammer Of QueenslandRestless---RestlessSpringloaded-Maggie IV1997Foxtel AmazonNo Fearr---No FearrWhite Ice-White Ice1998Hammer Of QueenslandQuestScampi A--Quest--Seaduction1999Nortress G-WhizzSaltash IIWistari--Saltash IIWistariSea Noble EngineeringGrey Seal2000Nortress G-WhizzScampi AExocetScampi A---ExocetKoomooloo2001Grundig XenaSaltash IIBelleSaltash II-Saltash II-Saltash IIPagan2002GrundigGrundigGemini DreamGrundig-Saltash II-Sassy-2003GrundigSaltash IIIchi BanSaltash II-Saltash II-Dancing LadyMeltemi2004SkandiaAAPTKickatinalongAAPT-Ichi Ban-Kickatinalong-2005AAPTSaltash IILady KatherineSaltash II-Saltash II-Kickatinalong-2006Heaven Can WaitCorumHeaven Can WaitCorum---Lloyd Brokers Too ImpetuousMarriah2007Ichi BanSaltash IIBalticSaltash II---Saltash IIWomenRace4Redkite South Passage2008Ichi BanQuantum RacingRyugin FGIQuantum Racing---SassySunshine Sailing Australia2009Black Jack 66Quantum RacingShogunQuantum Racing--PaganMondoSeafarer 42010Black Jack 66WedgetailZulu ChiefWedgetail - - -SassyEressea2011LahanaHooliganToo ImpetuousHooligan - - -Too ImpetuousEressea2012Wild ThingBlack Jack 66MarriahBlack Jack 66Black Jack 66 - -MarriahEressea2013Wild ThingWedgetailWedgetailWedgetailImmigrant - -The GamblerSouth Passage2014Black Jack 77AliveAliveAliveAlive - -WistariEressea2015Black Jack 77Black Jack 77Black Jack 77Black Jack 77Alive - -CorrobboreeSouth Passage2016Black Jack 77 Jonathan Hair. (26 March 2016). Black Jack wins in 2016 for the third year in a row. ABC News. Retrieved 3 January 2024Black Jack 77Mr KiteBlack Jack 77CorrobboreeApriori -CorrobboreeMarriah2017Black JackIchi BanFlying Colours 2Ichi BanAliveApriori -Flying Colours 2Marriah2018Black JackIchi BanFusionIchi BanIchi BanApriori WistariArgusTeam Hollywood2019Black JackEnvy ScootersKerismaEnvy ScootersEnvy ScootersDreamlover -SassyPagan2020Race CancelledRace CancelledRace CancelledRace CancelledRace CancelledRace CancelledRace CancelledRace CancelledRace Cancelled2021MaritimoWistariWistariWistariWistariWistariCoopers

Key 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 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.

Multiple Courier Mail Cup winners 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 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 Black Jack 100 2018 course time: 16h 53min 57s Average speed: 18.23 knots

See also

Sport in Queensland

References

External links