Seilbootkompetisie vanaf Brisbane na Gladstone

Daar word jaarliks op Goeie Vrydag, ‘n seilbootkompetisie gehou, en die skepe vertrek vanaf Moreton Island en jaag, of sal ek liewer se seil, tot by Gladstone. Hierdie jaar was die 61ste jaar wat die kompetisie gehou is. Hierdie jaar is ook Queensland se 150ste verjaarsdag, so die vaarders was almal baie opgewonder om deel te wees van die “celebrations” wat die hele jaar in Queensland plaasvind.

Dit was ongelooflik om al die seilskepe te sien verbyvaar, en hul het gelukkig baie hulp van die wind gehad. Daar was ongelooflik baie mense, en op die strande word daar ook “sand sculpturing” kompetisies gehou. Ons kon ongelukkig nie naby die gewilde “Sutton Beach” parkering kry nie. As ons geweet het dit gaan so ‘n groot “do” wees by die strand, het ons al vroeg gegaan. Maar gelukkig het ons verder af parkeerplek gekry, en kon gelukkig die klomp seilbote sien verbygaan. Dit was “awesome” gewees.

Die fotos het ek afgelaai van die volgende website:

http://www.sailworld.com/ Australia. Ek het nie my kamera saamgeneem toe ons gaan rondry het nie, en was baie spyt dat ek nie self die fotos kon neem nie.

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Hier is 'n bietjie geskiedenis oor die kompetisie:

The Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race starts 500 metres offshore from Shorncliffe Pier, Sandgate then heads past the Redcliffe foreshores, across to Tangalooma, up Brisbane’s north west commercial shipping channel to Caloundra, then around Point Cartwright following the Sunshine Coast past Rainbow Beach, up the Fraser Coast with a port turn at Breaksea Spit Light and a port rounding of Lady Elliot Island into cross the Finish Line at Gladstone Harbour. The weary crews usually arrive between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning depending on wind, weather and tides.
Steeped in historyThe Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race has been an annual event since 1949. 2009 marks the 61st anniversary of the Race. Only seven yachts competed in the first race and position reporting was carried out by homing pigeons. Yachts issued with birds had to release two pigeons each day. Competitors weren’t required to carry ‘two-way radio telephones’ until 1957.

Since the first race in 1949 the trophy awarded to the overall race winner, with corrected handicaps, has been called The Courier-Mail Cup.

Many don’t know that the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race has weathered worse storms than the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. In 1972 Cyclone Emily caused havoc as winds reached up to 96 knots. There were no casualties but only five of the 25 race starters finished the race that year.

Hier is die roete wat gevolg word: