A maritime tradition carried by competing yachts since 1982.

The Gadstone Ports Corporation Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race is rich with traditions carried forward across generations of sailors. One of the most distinctive is ‘Carrying the Mail’, a ceremonial journey linking offshore sailing with Australia’s postal and maritime history.

Since 1982, the race has included the ceremonial carrying of specially produced first covers from Brisbane to Gladstone.

Each year, the Gladstone and District Philatelic Society Inc produces first covers for both the monohull and multihull fleets. The front of each cover features a maritime image representing the yacht and or the history of the race, while the reverse records details of the yacht and the Society.

Before the race, the covers are cancelled by Australia Post at suburbs closest to the start line. Sandgate for the monohull fleet and Manly, and later Sandgate, for the multihull fleet. Once cancelled, the covers are carefully packaged and handed to the skippers of the selected yachts to be carried to Gladstone during the race.

The race starts on Good Friday at 11am and typically takes between 24 and 72 hours to complete. Upon arrival in Gladstone, the covers are stamped with a commemorative seal showing the date of arrival, completing their journey.

This tradition has continued every year with the exception of 1993 and 2020.

In the 2025 Queensland Cruising Yacht Club Gladstone Ports Corporation Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, BOLT Out of the Blue was honoured to carry the mail for the multihull fleet. The crew were proud and privileged to be selected by the Gladstone and District Philatelic Society Inc to undertake this role.

A commemorative plaque displayed in the foyer of Queensland Cruising Yacht Club records the names of every yacht that has carried the mail since 1982, preserving this unique tradition for future generations.

With sincere thanks to the Gladstone and District Philatelic Society Inc for their ongoing support of this much valued race tradition, and to Phillipa and Allan Bolt of BOLT Out of the Blue for creating the commemorative plaque displayed in the foyer of Queensland Cruising Yacht Club