Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race
The Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race is held annually, starting on Good Friday. The premier blue water classic begins from Shorncliffe in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, and finishes in Gladstone Harbour. Yachts compete for the Courier Mail Cup, one of the oldest perpetual trophies in Australia that has been competed for on a continual basis. In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as an "event and festival". History. The Queensland Cruising Yacht Club was established  in 1948 to organise the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race. The first race was held during Easter 1949. The first race saw seven vessels start, two of which carried radios while Brisbane’s Homing Pigeon Club supplied pigeons to the others for position reporting. Each yacht issued with birds was to release two each day. The finish is hosted by the Port Curtis Sailing Club. Course. The course leads the yachts northwards from the start line at the Shorncliffe pier to a turning mark off Redcliffe before joining the main channel out of Moreton Bay. Yachts leave Fraser Island to  port before passing Breaksea spit and then leaving Lady Elliot Island to port. The final stage of the race is often the hardest as the yachts make their way up Gladstone Harbour to the finish line just outside Auckland Creek. Winners. Consecutive participation. Laurabada raced 51 Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht races, sailing 43 with her builder Ivan Holm Snr at the helm and 8 races with Ivan Holm Jnr as skipper. The majestic ketch contested her 50th race in 2002 and 51st race in 2018. Wistari has also sailed 51 Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Races, sailing 28 with her designer  and builder Noel Patrick at the helm and 23 with son Scott Patrick as skipper. Fastest time to complete the course. Black Jack 100