Race News Highlights

Saturday, 5th March – Brisbane.

Tam Faragher is back in 2023 with his one-of-a-kind design 𝙆𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙖 and is hoping to lift the silverware in this anniversary 75th @gladstoneportscorporation Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race but admits possibly the yacht and crew are now more focussed on fast/cruising than the flat-out racing focus of the early 2010s. “With the recent fit-out of furling headsails and ducted air conditioning, the Crew are more likely to gather in the saloon for a ‘briefing and Nespresso’ than go for a perfect gybe-set,” said Tam.

However, we can’t help but feel that Tam is trying to lull us into a false sense of expectation, as 𝙆𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙖 has some serious racing pedigree and the pace to be a genuine Courier Mail Cup threat.

A one-off design by Jason Ker and built by McConaghy in China, 𝙆𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙖 has a lifting keel for the shallow waters of Moreton Bay and Manly Marina and a twin rudder setup, allowing for her to be sailed hard with lots of cloth in the air and remains in control.

Whilst 𝙆𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙖 has completed eight B2G races, missing only one, Tam has only missed two races in the last 20 years. When asked if he had fond memories of previous B2G’s, Tam replied,

“Early in my racing career, with my L-plates on, I was bowman on Graeme Woods Helta Skelta. A late call to hoist the spinnaker near the Fairway buoy, saw me frantically organising the perfect set – until I was hoisted up along with it!”

Good luck 𝙆𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙖 and we look forward to having a Nespresso or two with you at the other end.

Catch the start of the historic Gladstone Ports Corporation 75th Brisbane to Gladstone as it is streamed live & free on @kayosports Freebies, on the B2G Website and right here on Facebook from 10 am Good Friday, April 7th, thanks to the @gladstoneregionalcouncil‘s Easter in Gladstone.

#b2g2023 #b2g75 #brisbanetogladstonerace #thisisqueensland #SouthernGreatBarrierReef #GladstoneRegion

@adina_watches

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Friday, 3rd March – Brisbane.

In a further addition to our extended coverage plans for the momentous 𝟳𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝟮𝗚, 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 (QCYC) is also thrilled to announce 𝗡𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 (𝗮𝗸𝗮 ‘𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹’) – who has been a part of the B2G live stream commentary team since 2017 – will be significantly stepping up her commentary and reporting roles both leading into the race and over the entire Easter race weekend to include mainstream media and on 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 @sailorgirlhq plus B2G platforms.

Nic says she is looking forward to bringing all the action from the docks, on the water for the start and in Gladstone for the finish in what is one of Australia’s most historically significant offshore sailing races.

“It is an honour to be working with the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club race team once again, but this time on a larger scale. Most importantly, I am very excited about an Easter of B2G race action from the start on Good Friday, all the way through to all of the adventures at the finish in Gladstone,” Nic said.

#B2G2023 #75B2G #brisbanetogladstoneyachtrace #brisbane2gladstoneyachtrace #B2G #offshoreracing #sailing #sailorgirl #gladstone #visitqueensland #visitmoretonbay #visitbrisbane

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 (𝗤𝗖𝗬𝗖) is delighted to announce that Australian TV and radio sports icon, 𝗣𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗵 will be joining the 2023 reporting and commentary team for Easter’s 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝗱𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟳𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝗱𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗬𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲 (𝟳𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝟮𝗚).

Having recently retired to radio after an extraordinary 47 years on television at Channel 7, Pat Welsh has had a long affinity with the B2G having reported extensively on the race annually throughout his TV career and spent many Easters in Gladstone providing in-depth coverage.

This year for the 75th B2G, Pat will be undertaking some B2G interviews and commentary over Easter (which avid fans can catch on B2G Facebook/Instagram and race TV coverage) and will be Master of Ceremony for the Official Presentation Ceremony in @bris2gladvillage Easter Sunday (9th April).

Pat says he has many decades of fond memories reporting on the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race including being in Gladstone to report on ocean racing legend, Jack Rooklyn running aground on Lady Elliot reef during the 1980 race with Apollo.

“I’m delighted to be reunited with Queensland’s blue water classic,” Pat said.

“My first trips to Gladstone to cover the B2G were in a light aircraft so when we graduated to a helicopter, it made coverage of the race and breeze so much easier,” he said.

“We’d factor a lunch stop in where Mum would meet us at the Bundaberg Airport with a stack of freshly made sandwiches so I was always very popular with the pilot and cameraman.”

Just over 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼…

race starts 11am, 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹.

Gladstone Ports Corporation

Gladstone Regional Council

ADINA Watches

Visit Brisbane

Brisbane to Gladstone Village

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 (𝙗𝙮 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙝 𝙒𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 @joshmate): Queensland Cruising Yacht Club 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘄 and 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗜𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗼𝘄 with 𝗣𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗵 and 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙧-𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝘾𝙪𝙥 – the B2G’s coveted overall winner trophy and one of the oldest trophies in Australian sailing history