Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race - Preview

Strong winds replaced by fickle breeze

The 2010 Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race fleet could face an unpredictable weather system when they line up to contest the 62nd Blue Water classic on Good Friday April 2nd.

However race crews remained confident that an ideal spinnaker sailing south east breeze will return after the Cape Moreton wind recorder spun lazily through 10 different wind changes yesterday.

Moreton Bay and the important open ocean coastline between Caloundra and the entrance to Gladstone harbour were in a state of calm yesterday after being buffeted by strong winds since early January. This current uncertain nature of the coastal weather suggest there is a strong possibility that the fleet of 50 yachts including the defending line honours champion Black Jack could face a supreme test of racing in light headwinds for the first time in recent years.

Meanwhile all crews remain hopeful and are expecting a return of the moderate to fresh trade winds to provide them with another fast and exhilarating sail under spinnakers.

However all crews placed the important racing sail inventory on hold as they entered the ten down count down earlier today.

It was another day of work in progress for Black Jack crew member Ashley Deekes who has the responsibility to ensure the exciting sloop is race ready to defend her 2009 line honours and continue with her undefeated record in major Queensland coastal passage races.

There was also a level of excitement surrounding the preparation of the eight time race winner Saltash ll which spent the past 12 months land locked in a dusty industrial shed at Hemmant. Saltash 11 owned and raced by third generation Gladstone Race sailors Bill and Ian Wright and navigated by Peter Cavill scored her first Courier-Mail Cup win 24 years ago and presently holds the record for the fastest corrected handicap course time of 21 hours 15 minutes 54 seconds set when she won her third of eight races in 1993.

Predictably Saltash ll is again listed among the top contenders along with the five match racing Farr 40 class yachts including Cracklin Rosie skippered by two time winner Bob Robertson of Mooloolaba and Capricorn Cruising Yacht Club helmsman Tim McCall who enters his first Gladstone race with a promise of causing an upset with the 2009 Australian IRC class champion Acadia (formerly Alegria).

Meanwhile all of the major contenders which includes Black Jack following her ‘triple’ line honours, race record and corrected handicap win in the 2009 Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Bay classic remain on weather watch.