Tough first night for 75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race sailors with eight yachts retiring

75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race © Sarah Motherwell

It was a tough, wild and wet first night for one of Australia's oldest and most iconic yacht races, the Gladstone Ports Corporation 75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race which set sail yesterday (Good Friday, 7 April) with eight competing yachts now retired and 38 yachts still on their 308 nautical mile race to Gladstone.

All sailors and boats are safe after the long and treacherous night at sea.

The list of retirements (in order of latest to earliest) is:

1. Black Diamond - seamanship decision, heading to Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
2. Concerto 2 - seamanship decision, returning to Port
3. Puppet - seamanship decision, at Port
4. Obsession - sea sickness, at Port
5. Flying Colours 2 - shredded mainsail, at Port
6. Active Again - delaminated mainsail, at Port
7. Aramex - sea sickness, returned to South Port Yacht Club
8. Night Nurse, torn mainsail, at Port

As the sun went down yesterday and nightfall hit, the race fleet sailed north and through a storm cell.

Celeste reported to have been hit by lightning and lost all electronics from the strike. They still had VHF radio connectivity and iridium so chose to continue.

Hutchies Yeah Baby were confronted with a mainsail issue upon sunset but got it back in their mast track and were also able to continue.

2022 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race winner, Celestial is leading the fleet and as at 9am is now north of Fraser Island.

Ocean Crusaders J-Bird II, Maritimo 11, Mayfair and Kerumba are all following closely behind Celestial.

Maritimo 11 is leading the race overall on corrected time and currently the front runner for The Courier-Mail Cup.

The first yachts are still expected to cross the finish line tomorrow morning (Easter Sunday).

Follow the race over Easter Weekend

Further information about the Gladstone Ports Corporation 75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race is available by visiting www.brisbanetogladstone.com or following the race on Facebook at www.facebook.com/brisbanetogladstone and Instagram at @brisbane2gladstoneyachtrace

The race is celebrated throughout the Easter weekend thanks the Gladstone Regional Council's 'Easter in Gladstone' www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/easter

The Gladstone Ports Corporation 75th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It's Live! in Queensland events calendar.