Race record smashed in 74th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race

Peter Harburg, Mark Bradford and the Black Jack crew celebrate winning line honours and smashing their race record in the 74th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race © Andra Bite

The mighty 100-foot offshore ocean racing Black Jack has smashed its own race record in the Gladstone Ports Corporation's iconic 74th annual Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race crossing the Gladstone Harbour finish line at 3.13am this morning (Easter Saturday, 16th April 2022) and taking line honours.

Black Jack - the largest yacht in the 37 strong race fleet - eclipsed its previous race record of 16 hours, 53 minutes and 57 seconds which had been held since 2018 setting a new race record of 16 hours, 13 minutes and 56 seconds.

Black Jack also took line honours in the 2021 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in December last year.

Alive crossed shortly after Black Jack in a time of 17 hours, 3 minutes and 48 seconds.

As at 12pm today (Easter Saturday, 16th April 2022), five of the 37 race fleet starters have finished the 74th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race - Black Jack (1st), Alive (2nd), Stefan Hair (3rd), Ichi Ban (4th) and Celestial (5th).

Two race yachts were forced to withdraw during the race - Not A Diamond due to a broken rudder and Ignition because of a broken forestay. A third yacht, Crankster was delayed at Caloundra dropping an injured crew member off for medical treatment but was back in the race shortly after.

Ian Gidlow, Commodore of race organising club, Queensland Cruising Yacht Club (QCYC) - who has been Commodore for nine Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Races - says it was easily the best race start in the history of the race topped off with a new race record at the finish line this morning.

"Yesterday's race start was truly spectacular and the finish equally as thrilling with Black Jack beating its own race record," Mr Gidlow said.

"The crews that have arrived in this morning have reported that wind conditions were stronger than expected as they sailed through the night reaching 25 to 30 knots at times," he said.

The rest of the fleet is expected to start arriving after 1pm today in Gladstone.

Alive is currently leading on handicap.

Considered Queensland's most iconic annual Easter sporting event and hosted by Queensland Cruising Yacht Club (QCYC), the Gladstone Ports Corporation Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race sees sailors compete for the coveted overall prize, The Courier-Mail Cup.

A live stream of the race start can be viewed online at www.brisbanetogladstone.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/brisbanetogladstone while an interactive Race Tracker of the race fleet can be viewed via YB yacht tracking.

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.

Further information about the Gladstone Ports Corporation's Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race is available by visiting www.brisbanetogladstone.com or telephoning Queensland Cruising Yacht Club (QCYC) on (07) 3269 4588.

The Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race is celebrated throughout the Easter weekend thanks the Gladstone Regional Council's 'Easter in Gladstone' www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/easter