Light winds for the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race
Light unstable winds will force the 48 skippers of the 58th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race to rethink their race strategy when they line up for the start of the 58th Brisbane to Gladstone race today.
Even with the high standard of yachts competing in this years race, they will be struggeling to beat the 2004 race record of 10 hours of her 20 hour 24 minute 50 seconds. This record was set by Victorian super maxi “Skandia” when she recorded an impressive 15.09 knot average for the 308 n/mile course.
Wind recordings of a 4 knot North East sea breeze at the Spitfire Channel near the entrance to Moreton Bay and calms along the Redcliffe Peninsula will combine to present the fleet with a supreme test to maintain a respectable boat speed over the tricky 42 nautical miles before reaching more reliable winds on the open ocean when they weather the Fairway Buoy of Caloundra.
Fortunately the fleet will have some assistance with an outgoing tide but when that changes to flood in at 4 knots some of the slower yachts like the 1968 Sydney Hobart winner Koomooloo (Mike Freebairn) and the 41 year old Gladstone sloop Wistari (Scott Patrick) could have their race handicap winning chances eliminated.
Easter in mid April is notorious for slower races and all the weather signs are clearly evident to indicate progress will be slow before a promised 20/25 knot southerly change blows onto the South Queensland coast late on Saturday.
Skandia with her advantage of sail power and waterline length will dominate the race for line honours but her charter skipper Kerry Spencer who held a burning ambition to break the record will struggle to beat his personal best when he steered the smaller pocket maxi Bobsled to her race record time of 21-59-43 13 years ago.
The race starts today (Fri 14th) off Sandgate pier at 11am (AEST).
About the Race
The Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race is an Australian sporting icon.
As Queensland’s premier blue water classic, its significance was recognised when this race was selected as the feature aquatic sport event for the ‘Centenary of Federation’ celebrations in 2001.
The 308 nautical mile ocean classic will run for the 58th time in 2006 and is one of Australia’s major sporting events over the Easter weekend.
This race offers a great blend of old and new. The course and steady trade wind breezes provide great racing for the latest high-tech mono-hull sleds yet there is a unique history associated with this internationally famed classic.
To keep up-to-date with the results go to…
Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race website
A map of the course can be found here.