Day 1 – Fleet Sets Sail in Inaugural Brisbane to Bundaberg Offshore Yacht Race
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.
Obsession (left) and the whole fleet getting underway in the Brisbane to Bundaberg Race – Credit – Sunset Media – @sailorgirlhq-0488
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 simple message of encouragement, sharing a French expression before translating it for the fleet: “Stick at it and good luck.”
Ignition crew with sponsors from HitzFM – Credit – Sunset Media – @sailorgirlhq-0232
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 were able to take immediate advantage of the abating breeze and settle quickly into race mode.
Mayor of the Bundaberg Region – Helen Blackburn onboard the start boat with Principal Race Officer Louise Davis – Credit – Sunset Media – @sailorgirlhq-0487
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.
Not a Diamond – Credit – Sunset Media – @sailorgirlhq-0600
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.
Not Guilty – Credit – Sunset Media – @sailorgirlhq-0577
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.
Crews were elated to be heading North – Credit – Sunset Media – @sailorgirlhq-0043
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.
Balancing Act – Credit – Sunset Media – @sailorgirlhq-0506
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.
VIP Boat – Sapphire with RQYS CEO Karen Baldwin and Prof Graeme Nimmo RFD on the left – Credit – Sunset Media – @sailorgirlhq-0394
Day 2 – Wedgetail and Balancing Act Crowned Champions of Inaugural Brisbane to Bundaberg Yacht Race
The inaugural Brisbane to Bundaberg Yacht Race, organised by Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, delivered a memorable first edition. David Rose’s Bundaberg Rum-sponsored Wedgetail claimed both Line Honours and overall IRC victory, while Tony Craner’s Bundaberg Port Marina-sponsored Balancing Act secured ORCi, PHS and Double-Handed honours.
Balancing Act winning PHS – Credit @sailogirlhq
From the lively start off Brisbane, complete with colourful spinnakers and plenty of anticipation, the race evolved into a tactical offshore contest that tested patience, persistence and good humour as much as outright speed.
Competitors experienced everything including long periods drifting in just a few knots of breeze, with some boats at times making less than a knot of progress or even heading backward. The tracker became essential viewing as crews zigged, zagged and hunted for pressure all the way to Bundaberg.
Wedgetail proved the benchmark on the water throughout much of the race, leading for extended periods before becoming the first yacht to arrive in Bundaberg. The result was made even sweeter when corrected time calculations confirmed the team had also secured overall IRC honours.
On arrival, Rose and the crew were welcomed dockside by Her Excellency the Governor of Queensland, Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, her husband Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD, and Bundaberg Region Mayor Helen Blackburn, providing a fitting conclusion to a memorable race north.
RQYS Patron Professor Nimmo RFD and Curtis Skinner, RQYS Commodore – Credit @sailorgirlhq
David Rose, “Rosey”, said the race had been far more challenging than many expected.
“It was actually a massive slog, for those who don’t know. It’s meant to be a nice, quick, speedy race and it’ll be nice, quick and speedy next time, no doubt. I hope so. But it just shows you that anything can happen offshore.”
“We could see it shutting down behind us, so we just went triple-headed and got it done. We just kept pushing and pushing.”
The significance of becoming the inaugural winner was clearly not lost on the experienced skipper, who was visibly emotional on the dock after crossing the line.
“It’s special to be the first. You only get one chance to be the first winner of a race.”
For Balancing Act, consistency was the key. Tony Craner and crew put together an impressive performance across the race to claim ORCi, PHS and Double-Handed victories, demonstrating the value of smart decision-making in the often unpredictable conditions.
As winners of the PHS division, Balancing Act was also presented with the race’s perpetual PHS trophy by Pacific Tug Group. Rather than a conventional trophy, the perpetual award takes the form of an authentic tug bell, a fitting tribute to the maritime heritage of the event and a unique piece of silverware that competitors will be chasing for years to come.
Brisbane to Bundaberg prizes, including the PHS Trophy donated by Pacific Tug Group – Credit @sailorgirlhq
While the monohulls battled for overall honours, Allan Larkin’s Wide Bay Shipping Services-sponsored Noire carried the multihull banner alone in the inaugural race. The Bloomfield 70 completed a successful passage north to claim both the OMR and PHS Multihull titles, ensuring the race’s only multihull entry left Bundaberg with an armful of silverware.
The race produced no shortage of memorable moments.
Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD presenting Allan Larkin from Noire with one of their trophies – Credit @sailorgirlhq
Crews enjoyed spectacular sunsets at sea, spotted many whales and dolphins, navigated their way around K’gari, traded jokes and updates via race communications and, in the case of Noire, appeared determined to prove offshore racing could also be a culinary event. After serving up a barbecue lunch during one of the lighter patches of the race, the crew followed it with a home-grown lamb roast and sticky date pudding for dinner.
Crew member Becky Maloney summed it up perfectly when she declared, “Multihull racing, yachting’s best kept secret.”
Maloney’s contributions throughout the race were also recognised ashore, with the Noire crew member taking home the event’s Media Prize following a stream of entertaining updates and images from offshore.
At the other end of the fleet, Anton Prange and the crew aboard Hitz 939 FM-sponsored Ignition captured plenty of attention as they embraced what became known as the unofficial “Race to the Party Division”. Arriving first in Bundaberg, albeit under motor, the crew ensured the Race Village and Port of Bundaberg hospitality had early guests, eventually becoming one of the stories of the inaugural race.
Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Patron, Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD was again on hand for the presentation ceremony alongside Bundaberg Region Mayor Helen Blackburn, helping celebrate the conclusion of the race’s inaugural edition.
Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD, and Bundaberg Region Mayor Helen Blackburn watching the presentation – Credit @sailorgirlhq
Race organisers, volunteers, sponsors and supporters were thanked for helping bring the event to life, including Bundaberg Port Marina, Pacific Tug Group, QMF Trails, Ingenia Lifestyle, The Yacht Sales Co., Hitz 939 FM, Coral Cove Ocean Estate, Lighthouse Hotel, Robert Oatley, Bundaberg Rum, XXXX and Club Marine.
With the first Brisbane to Bundaberg Yacht Race now complete, attention is already turning to the future, with many sponsors and crews already expressing enthusiasm for returning in 2027. Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron has confirmed the event will return, with dates for the second edition to be announced later this week.
This was special – a very happy Rosey – Credit @sailorgirlhq
MAJOR WINNERS
Line Honours
Bundaberg Rum-sponsored Wedgetail (David Rose)
IRC Overall
Bundaberg Rum-sponsored Wedgetail (David Rose)
ORCi Overall
Bundaberg Port Marina-sponsored Balancing Act (Tony Craner)
PHS Overall
Bundaberg Port Marina-sponsored Balancing Act (Tony Craner)
Double-Handed Division
Bundaberg Port Marina-sponsored Balancing Act (Tony Craner)
OMR Multihull
Wide Bay Shipping Services-sponsored Noire (Allan Larkin)
PHS Multihull
Wide Bay Shipping Services-sponsored Noire (Allan Larkin)
For more information, head to: brisbanetobundaberg.com
