The QantasLink Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race is THE Queensland Ocean Yacht Race.
The QantasLink 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 QantasLink Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race is Queensland’s highest profile Easter weekend sporting event, setting sail from Moreton Bay on Good Friday every year.
This year is the 65th anniversary of the event.
The 2012 event attracted 14 million hits on the dedicated website and yacht tracker chart.
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.
The 308 nautical mile ocean classic will run for the 64th time on 6th April 2012.
In the last three years entry numbers have been between 50 to 60 yachts.
Entrants include the majority of significant Queensland based racers such as Black Jack as well as interstate and overseas competitors.
The QantasLink Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race is Gladstone’s highest profile event.
60,000 spectators line Moreton Bay foreshores to watch the start of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race combining their visit with the Festival of Sails and Bluewater Festival.
20,000 spectators watch the race finishers from the Gladstone Harbour Festival.
Around 300 private and commercial craft gather around the start line.
Entrants in the QantasLink Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race race for the Courier Mail Cup, one of the oldest perpetual trophies in Australia that has been competed for on a continual basis.
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.
Media magnate, Rupert Murdoch won the race (line honors) twice in 1964 and 1965.
The QantasLink Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race is organized and hosted by the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club.