The inaugural Brisbane to Bundaberg Offshore Yacht Race is officially underway, with the fleet departing for Bundaberg on schedule at 1200 hours on Thursday 18 June for the 250-nautical-mile offshore passage north.
Competitors were farewelled by Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) Patron, Graeme Nimmo RFD, and Mayor of the Bundaberg Region, Helen Blackburn, alongside race sponsors and partners, as a new chapter in Queensland offshore racing began. Nimmo offered a message of encouragement, sharing a French expression before translating it for the fleet: “Stick at it and good luck.”
Conditions on the start line provided an exciting opening to the race, with the fleet spreading across the course in search of clean air and an early advantage. With Race Officer, Louise Davis, electing to position the start line offshore, north-east of Green Island and just south of Sand Hills Recreational Mark, competitors quickly settled into race mode.
The largest yacht in the fleet, Allan Larkin’s Wide Bay Shipping Services-sponsored Bloomfield 70 multihull, Noire, nailed the boat-end start, while Jamie Renwick’s Lighthouse Hotel-sponsored Eureka 31, Not Guilty, opted for a gybe-set from the pin end as the fleet accelerated away from the line.
Past RQYS Commodore, David Redfern’s, Club Marine-sponsored Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600, Not A Diamond, with current RQYS Commodore, Curtis Skinner, and Vice Commodore, Todd Anderson, among the crew, was one of the first boats to break clear of the fleet despite starting to leeward of the giant multihull.
Soon after, David Rose’s Bundaberg Rum-sponsored Welbourn 42, Wedgetail, established an early line honours lead, becoming the first yacht to round Sand Hills Recreational Mark and begin the long passage north towards Bundaberg.
With the fleet now settling into offshore mode, attention turns to the overnight conditions and the tactical decisions that will shape the race to Bundaberg. The Brisbane to Bundaberg Offshore Yacht Race has been established to create a new offshore challenge linking two of Queensland’s key sailing destinations and marks the beginning of what organisers hope will become a fixture on the offshore racing calendar.
As the fleet heads into its first night at sea, Jamie Renwick’s Lighthouse Hotel-sponsored Eureka 31, Not Guilty, holds the overnight lead on PHS, while Tony Craner’s Bundaberg Port Marina-sponsored double-handed entry, Balancing Act, currently tops both the IRC and ORCi standings. In the multihull divisions, Allan Larkin’s Wide Bay Shipping Services-sponsored Bloomfield 70 multihull, Noire, continues to lead the way, while David Rose’s Bundaberg Rum-sponsored Welbourn 42, Wedgetail, holds a narrow advantage over Al Harrison’s Yachtsales Co-sponsored yacht, Lisdillon, in the battle for line honours.
Sailing enthusiasts and supporters are encouraged to follow the action via the official race tracker, which provides live updates on the fleet’s progress throughout the passage.
For race updates, results and tracking information, visit:
https://brisbanetobundaberg.com
https://brisbanetobundaberg.com/#tracker
Nic Douglass – Brisbane to Bundaberg Sailing Media & Content
#BrisbaneToBundaberg #RQYS
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