The Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race is considered by the yachting fraternity and the general public to be one of Australia’s flagship races, second only in stature to the Sydney to Hobart.
The Race is Queensland’s highest profile Easter Weekend sporting event, setting sail from Moreton Bay on Good Friday annually.
From the start, yachts proceed via a mark off Redcliffe Point to the North West Channel up to Caloundra and through to 
Gladstone, a distance of approximately 308 nautical miles.
Weather dependent, the first yachts can be entering the Harbour in Gladstone around 7.30am the following morning with the bulk of the fleet finishing late Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday morning.
Entrants in the Brisbane to Gladstone race for the Courier Mail Cup, one of the oldest perpetual trophies in Australia that has been competed for on a continual basis.
Around 300 private and commercial craft gather around the start line and an estimated 60,000 spectators flock to Moreton Bay foreshores each year to see the race start and attend associated events including the Sandgate Bluewater Festival. Many more greet the yacht in Gladstone and attend the Gladstone Harbour Festival.
The Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race has weathered worse storms than the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race with Cyclone Emily causing havoc in 1972 as winds reached up to 96 knots. There were no casualties but only five of the 25 race starters finished the race that year. The race maintains an exemplary safety record.
In 2009 the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race was voted as one of the icons of Queensland.
In 2008 QCYC was the winner of the Queensland Tourism Award in the Festival and Events Category.
In 2001 the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race was selected as one of the platforms for the Centenary of Federation celebrations and a Centenary of Federation perpetual trophy is awarded to the winning team each year.Media magnate,
Rupert Murdoch won the race (line honors) twice in 1964 and 1965 and held the race record for twelve years from 1964 to 1976.