Please select your home edition
Edition
sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZ

QantasLink 70th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race

by Nigel Statham 3 Apr 2018 15:53 AEST 30 March - 1 April 2018

The QantasLink 70th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, organised by the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club, was one to remember for many reasons other than just the historic landmark it reached.

The race started in near perfect conditions in Moreton Bay on Good Friday with the help of multiple low-level flypasts by an RAAF C-17 over the start line. Following on from the success of the LiveStreaming of the race last year, QCYC increased the number of camera and included a drone for the 70th race. With a commentary team including 'Sailor Girl' and David Turton, the two hour broadcast went out to a huge audience and is still available to watch on the race website www.brisbanetogladstone.com or www.facebook.com/brisbanetogladstone

The whole fleet rounded the first mark off Redcliffe in under 50 minutes; a clear signal of a fast race ahead. Unsurprising, leading the fleet was the 100' Black Jack who quickly stretched her legs and thundered up the coast intent on one thing only, beating the 14 year old record for the race set by Skandia of 20 hours, 24 minutes and 50 seconds.

The winds gradually increased during the race and importantly didn't drop during the darkness hours. Boats were reporting constant 30 knot winds and confused seas. Most boats experienced some level of sail damage but despite the hard and very wet conditions only three boats retired not making it to the finish.

With such a fast boat and good pressure most felt that Black Jack was finally going to beat the record but as she powered into Gladstone harbour under the cover of night it became clear that the record was not only beaten, it was smashed by three and a half hours with a time of 16 hours, 53 minutes and 57 seconds.

Behind the 100 footer, the two 52 footers of Ichi Ban and Envy Scooters (ex Ichi Ban) duelled it out for the entire race with Matt Allen's rocket ship only really getting away from Envy as the two boats crossed 'the paddock' to Gladstone. As Ichi Ban crossed the line the realisation that not only one but two boats had beaten the 2004 record dawned. Ichi Ban now holds the record for the fastest time for a conventionally ballasted boat of 19 hours, 36 minutes and 42 seconds.

With the first three boats in, eyes turned back to the main pack which was still incredibly tightly packed; fourth over the line was Ray Roberts new toy Team Hollywood followed by the every competitive Kerumba and then there was no stopping them, the fleet streamed in.

In general, it was a big boat race. Matt Allen and Ich Ban took the overall prize and coveted Courier Mail Cup and in doing so achieved a historic Sydney Hobart/Brisbane to Gladstone double. The boat also managed a haul of other prizes including winner of the ORCi division, Four Cities Cup and the Federation Cup, the Club team event, with fellow CYCA boats Team Hollywood and Sail Exchange.

There were some exceptions to the big boat domination. Fusion took the PHRF division and there were good showings by Mayfair and Matrix but the real trend bucker was Wistari who was competing in her 50th edition of the historic race, an achievement of its own. The little home built boat featured heavily in the prize giving taking out a number of the divisions including the Vintage Division.

Second place in this division was Laurabada who incredibly, kept just ahead of Wistari in the records books by notching up her 51st race! How many races in the world can boast not one but two such long running competitors?

Also, of special mention was Marriah. The crew on this yacht stopped racing for almost five hours to give assistance to another competitor who suffers rudder damage. The efforts were immense and demonstrated the bond that exists between all sailors.

More information and full results can be found at www.brisbanetogladstone.com

Related Articles

75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race finishes
Classic yachts rank top of the table after brutal journey The classic pint-sized yachts have proven their might weathering this year's brutal and long 75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race which set sail on Good Friday (7 April) with the oldest yacht in the race fleet winning overall on corrected time Posted on 10 Apr 2023
First finishers in Brisbane to Gladstone Race
Celestial was the first yacht across the Gladstone Harbour finish line at dawn Celestial was the first yacht across the Gladstone Harbour finish line at dawn this morning in what has been a historic but brutal 75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race (75th B2G). Posted on 9 Apr 2023
75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race update
There are still 38 of the original 46 starting fleet out on course There are still 38 of the original 46 starting fleet out on course racing one of Australia's oldest and most iconic yacht races, the Gladstone Ports Corporation 75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race Posted on 8 Apr 2023
Tough night for Brisbane to Gladstone Race sailors
8 yachts retiring from one of Australia's oldest and most iconic yacht races It was a tough, wild and wet first night for one of Australia's oldest and most iconic yacht races, the Gladstone Ports Corporation 75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race Posted on 8 Apr 2023
A wet start for Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race
Challenging conditions lie ahead for the 46 yachts It was a wet start today for one of Australia's oldest yacht races, the Gladstone Ports Corporation 75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race which set sail at 11am from Moreton Bay. Posted on 7 Apr 2023
75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race preview
Upwind start predicted for the 47 yachts lining up tomorrow Anticipation has been building amongst sailors contesting the iconic Gladstone Ports Corporation 75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race which sets sail tomorrow from Moreton Bay with an upwind start predicted - the first for many years. Posted on 6 Apr 2023
75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race preview
47 strong fleet set to start the race on Good Friday A fleet of 47 offshore racing yachts will line up to make sailing history when they contest Australia's second oldest blue water yacht race - the Gladstone Ports Corporation 75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race (B2G) which sets sail on Good Friday. Posted on 22 Mar 2023
Azzurro enters B2G Yacht Race under new ownership
Australian offshore racing favourite set for Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race Highly competitive pocket rocket yacht Azzurro is now under Queensland ownership and set to contest the Gladstone Ports Corporation 75th edition Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race (B2G) which sets sail on Good Friday (7th April 2023). Posted on 7 Mar 2023
Brisbane to Gladstone Multihull race record
A new Race Record of 14hrs 16mins 28secs Rex, the ORMA60 trimaran previously known for many years as New Zealand's Team Vodafone, has bettered the previous race record, set by Beau Geste MOD70 in 2019, by more than an hour in this year's City Winery Brisbane to Gladstone Multihull Yacht Race. Posted on 16 Apr 2022
Brisbane to Gladstone Images by Mitch Pearson
Images from the Brisbane to Gladstone Start 2021. It was a great start in a blustery southerly wind reaching up to 25 knots. The pace setters had a nice sleigh ride to the first turning mark before the upwind hike up to Tangalooma. Posted on 2 Apr 2021
Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTERSelden 2020 - FOOTERBoat Books Australia FOOTER