The Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race, now in its 68th year, is underway with hundreds and hundreds of people coming the foreshore at Sandgate and Redcliffe as the yachts make their path towards north. The magnificent pack features thirty-one mono hull yachts as well as 8 multi hull boats.
Black Jack, the defending champ and line honors, is among them. John Ibell, the president of Gladstone Yacht Club told that when some of the yachts would come to Gladstone tomorrow, the lot of them would cruise into central Queensland town on Sunday.
Mr Ibell, who is also taking part in the race, told that he really loved getting out on the water. He told that he believes that this is the comradeship, the mateship, they do not have any of the rockstars on board, all locals, getting out there having the salt in your face, the salt air in your ears sort of thing.
It is basically like having a great time with some mates going for a sail. This is going to be a big yacht race so look out for Black Jack, probably getting line honors and handicap. The record for fastest end was all set it 2004 and stands at twenty hours, twenty-four minutes and fifty seconds.
Mr Ibell told that the race record was not anticipated to be under threat with weather conditions just likely to offer fifteen knot winds.