3rd Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race draws to a close
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009Every yacht that started the 3rd Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race on Saturday 1 August managed to race for the entire distance incident free and finish in the beautiful waters of Keppel Bay.
The final yacht to finish the 348 nautical mile race was David Moran’s Northshore 340 Escape. David and his crew crossed the finish line at 0249 hours this morning Tuesday 4 August.
The winning crews have received their trophies and congratulatory bottle of Bundaberg Rum and most are now departing Keppel Bay Marina and either heading north for Airlie Beach Race Week or back to their home port.
Peter Harburg and his Black Jack crew took the Line Honours, IRC Division 1 and IRC Overall prizes. Crew member Ashley Deeks was at the presentation to accept the prizes on behalf of the proud owner.
“I know Peter would like me to thank all the sponsors for the supporting the race and to Keppel Bay Marina for making us feel so welcome,” said Deeks at the presentation. “We really enjoyed this year’s race and look forward watching the fleet increasing in numbers. It was a close race with Evolution Sails boys and it was great to have them racing this year. They really made us work hard. Next year it would be great to see some other big yachts join us in the race and take on the record.”
Black Jack smashed their 2008 race record by four hours with the fastest time now sitting at 29 hours 24 minutes 11 seconds.
Overall winner on PHS was the Farr 40 Cracklin Rosie. Proud owner and skipper Bob Robertson was at the presentation to accept his prize.
“We had a great time. The boat has had a major refit and we really noticed the difference,” said Robertson. “It’s great to win the overall PHS Division and we hope to be back next year to defend our title.”
The Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race is hosted by the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron with the cooperation of Keppel Bay Marina. The naming rights sponsor for the 2009 race was Club Marine and they were joined by O’Reilley’s Real Estate, Rockhampton Regional Council, Capricorn Tourism, Angove Family Wines, Budget Rent A Car and Rosslyn Bay Inn.
Full results and photos are available from the race website – www.brisbanetokeppel.com
The race date for 2010 will be announced soon.
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RESULTS
Line Honours
Black Jack (Peter Harburg)
IRC Overall
1st Black Jack (Peter Harburg)
2nd Evolution Sails (Ray Roberts)
3rd Cracklin Rosie (Bob Robertson)
IRC Division 1
1st Black Jack (Peter Harburg)
2nd Evolution Sails (Ray Roberts)
3rd Cracklin Rosie (Bob Robertson)
IRC Division 2
1st Corum (Geoff & Todd Anderson)
2nd GOA (Colin Loel)
3rd Georgia Express (Andrew Knights)
PHS Overall 1st
Cracklin Rosie (Bob Robertson)
Cadibarra 8 (David Netherton)
GOA (Colin Loel)
PHS Division 1
1st Cracklin Rosie (Bob Robertson)
2nd Cadibarra 8 (David Netherton)
3rd Bribie Star (Peter Sherwood)
PHS Division 2
1st GOA (Colin Loel)
2nd Corum (Geoff & Todd Anderson)
3rd Dream Lover (Rick Morgan)
Navigators Prize
Dream Lover
24 yachts now finished
Monday, August 3rd, 2009The 3rd Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht race now has 24 boats finished with the crews enjoying a hearty feast Keppel Bay Marina.
The third yacht over the line was the Farr 40 Bribie Star skippered by Peter Sherwood.
“It was so awesome,” said Sherwood. “We were lucky to beat the other Farr 40’s over the line. Cracklin Rosie has had some major improvements and the boat is flying. We worked so hard all race and all the crew did a brilliant job.”
As the yachts arrived to Keppel Bay Marina they were met by the hospitality of the wonderful staff that provided plenty of food and cold refreshments for the hungry and thirsty sailors.
Rick Morgan owner and skipper of Dream Lover said that he will be back for the forth Brisbane to Keppel Race in 2010.
“We flew the spinnaker for almost the whole race and it was sensational,” said Morgan. “Our highlight would have had to of been when one of our reliable crew members Chinese gybed the boat! We had a top speed of 15 knots so were pretty impressed with that.”
Two yachts are still to cross the finish line. Ray White Castle Hill (Tartan) is due to cross at approximately 1700 hours with Escape scheduled to finish at midnight.
The post race celebrations are well and truly underway at race control headquarters with the presentation set to take place on Tuesday morning at 1000 hours.
The provisional result has Black Jack taking out IRC correcting out to 49 seconds in front of friendly rivals Evolution Sails. Cracklin Rosie is set to take out the PHS division.
There are four yachts vying for the Navigators Prize with each finishing less than 60 seconds from their ETA at the Tropic of Capricorn.
For more information – www.brisbanetokeppel.com
Evolution Sails second across the line
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009At 2129 hours precisely on Sunday 2 August, Ray Roberts and his Evolution Sails crew sailed across the Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race finish line to place second in the 26 yacht fleet.
After a post start tactical battle with Black Jack the crew on board the Cookson 50 gave the spectators a glimpse of big boat racing.
“We had a brilliant start and just picked the westerly shift perfectly,” said Ray Roberts upon arriving at Keppel Bay Marina.
“The whole race was enjoyable but we didn’t see as many whales as the other yachts. There is nothing out of the ordinary to report expect that is was just a good race north. Our top speed was 21 knots so all in all we all agreed that it was a great race. Yes, we will be back next year!” continued Roberts.
This is the first year that Roberts and his Cookson 50 have competed in the Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race.
For more information – www.brisbanetokeppel.com
Black Jack breaks own record
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009The race record of the Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race has fallen today with Black Jack smashing their own record set in 2008 by 3 hours and 49 minutes.
The Peter Harburg owned and Mark Bradford skippered Reichel Pugh 66 crossed the finish line in Keppel Bay under spinnaker cruising along at 16 knots.
“It was slow to start and up to Indian Head but then the south easterly kicked in and we started to make some good ground,” said proud owner Peter Harburg.
“We got 20-25 knots and the boat was just flying. It was a really great race and I’m so happy with how the crew sailed,” continued Harburg.
Skipper Mark Bradford said it was a relief to have a good race this weekend.
“Last week’s long race was really tough for the boys, so it was good to have some great conditions for this time round. It really was a spectacular sail here with plenty of whale sightings. Bring on Hamilton Island Race Week! Hopefully we are ready for the Oats boys,” said Bradford.
The Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Brad Carter was here to welcome the Line Honours crew and hand over the traditional pineapple as a welcoming token to the region.
The new race record for the Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race is 29 hours, 24 minutes and 11 seconds.
The next yacht due to cross the finish line is Ray Robert’s Cookson 50 Evolution Sails. They are expected to finish before midnight.
For more information – www.brisbanetokeppel.com
Race record under threat
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009The race record of 33 hours, 13 minutes and 13 seconds is under serious threat to fall in the third year of the Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race.
The yachts are experiencing 15-20 knots from the south east with perfect racing conditions.
Black Jack (Mark Bradford) is currently leading the fleet and it set to be the first yacht home with an ETA of 1800 hours today 2 August.
“It would be wonderful if Black Jack finished at around 1800 hours,” said Keppel Bay Marina General Manager Kylie Smith. “It would just be a great sight for the locals as they are here at the Marina all day celebrating the Keppel Carnivale.”
Evolution Sails will be the second yacht to arrive at the Marina after fighting Black Jack at the start of the race on Saturday 1 August.
The forty footers are still having a great battle amongst themselves with Bribie Star (Peter Sherwood) keeping about a mile lead in from of Night Nurse (Russell McCart) and Cracklin Rosie (Bob Roberterson).
Bribie Star twittered: “We have the Nurse and Cracklin now about a mile astern. Currently sending her with speeds up to 16knots averages of 11 knots.”
At the 1005 sked Black Jack was 92 miles from the finish line with Evolution Sails are reported to be 40 miles behind.
The local activities at Keppel Bay Marina will continue today and until the last boat crosses the finish line.
For more information – www.brisbanetokeppel.com
Overnight Update
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009The 26 competing yachts in the 3rd Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht race started in frustrating conditions on Saturday 1 August at 1100 hours.
Black Jack (Mark Bradford) had an early tussle with rivals Evolution Sails (Ray Roberts) as they fought their way out Moreton Bay in four knots of south west breeze. Eventually it was Black Jack that took the lead ahead of the Cookson 50 and they have maintained a good distance ahead of the fleet overnight.
The Northshore 340 Escape (David Moran), one of the smallest boats in the fleet was forced back to the start after an individual recall and finally made it out of the bay at approximately 0030 hours this morning.
Just before the midnight sked the crew onboard Escape twittered “In Spit Fire channel. Five knots of true wind. Slow going. Tide with us now.”
Overnight the yachts received increased pressure from the south west at times reaching 15 knots with most being under spinnaker.
The majority of the fleet is now approaching Double Island Point with the Farr 40s and other 40 footers making their way along the Fraser Coast.
The regular skeds have ensured that land based spectators are kept informed of the yachts progress during the race with their positions plotted on the tracker.
Night Nurse (Russell McCart) and Bribie Star (Peter Sherwood) are throwing tactics at each other as they lead the other Farr 40’s Cracklin Rosie (Bob Robertson) and e11even (David Elliott).
Bribie Star twittered “Probably will only be at Double Island Point in the morning…”, however it would seem that with the increased conditions the yachts received overnight has pushed them further forward from their original predictions.
The next sked is at 1005 hours which will give another position report on the website tracker.
The Radio Relay Vessel Kokoda is maintaining a close watch on the fleet and will stay with them until the last boat crosses the finish line outside of Keppel Bay Marina.
The race which is now in its third year is proudly sponsored by Club Marine, O’Reilley’s Real Estate, Rockhampton Regional Council, Capricorn Tourism, Angove Family Wines, Rosslyn Bay Inn, Budget Rent A Car and SLAM. Once departing Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (race organiser) the yachts are welcomed by the hospitality of Keppel Bay Marina.
Photos from the start are now available in the online gallery.
Light airs start for the 3rd Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race
Saturday, August 1st, 2009The yachts racing in the 3rd Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race started the 348 nautical mile race under spinnaker in just over 4 knots breeze from the south west.
When the warning signal was made the majority of the fleet aimed for a pin end start to ensure they captured the last of the morning westerly. On Y Va John Moore), GOA (Colin Loel) and Escape (David Moran) were over the line at the 1100 hours start and were required the battle the tide and lack of wind to the return and re-start.
High profile entrants Black Jack (Mark Bradford) and Evolution Sails (Ray Roberts) managed to fight their way through the smaller boats and were clear starters on the gun. Evolution sneaked ahead of Black Jack and claimed the clean air and an early lead. However it wasn’t too long into the race when Black Jack took the lead of the Cookson 50 as they headed off into the distance.
The yachts that chose to start at the pin end of the line have now made good distance and are heading out of Moreton Bay however those who picked the boat end were becalmed just minutes after the start.
Amongst those who have their work cut for them to catch the fleet before night fall were Sweethart, Blunderbuss, Southern Cross Yachting, and Sanity Clause.
“This is going to be a very very long day,” said Sanity Clause crew member Peter Elkington. “We may not make it out of the bay until tomorrow if the breeze doesn’t come in!”
The current ETA for the first yacht to arrive at the finish at Keppel Bay is approximately 1900 hours on Sunday 2 August.
Stay up-to-date via the official race website – www.brisbanetokeppel.com
The first Radio Scheduling Report from yachts is at 1505 hours today.
Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Yachts Preparing for the Race Start
Saturday, August 1st, 2009Last night competitors from the 26 competing yachts took notes at the official welcome and briefing that was conducted in the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Flags function room.
The competitors were welcomed by RQYS Commodore and race entrant Russell McCart who will be racing his Farr 40 Night Nurse in the 328 nautical miles challenge.
The forecast for light south westerly was precise and the yachts are set for a spinnaker start as they prepare for their journey north to Keppel Bay.
“We are really looking forward to this year’s race and battling it out with the other forty footers,” said Sweethart owner and skipper Tony Love.
“It’s going to be a lovely sail north and we are looking forward to watching Sweethart’s bow the whole way and welcoming them at Keppel Bay Marina,” said Michael Job, skipper of Southern Cross Yachting. “It’s always great fun having some friendly competition on races like these!”
As the yachts make their way to the start line they will show their storm sails to the race committee as part of the stringent safety requirements of a Category 2 race.
The 3rd Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race starts at 1100 hours each of Green Island on Moreton Bay.
A mass of supporting spectators will be on the water to farewell the yachts.
REGISTER FOR SMS UPDATES – www.brisbanetokeppel.com/sms/
OFFICAL WEBSITE – http://www.brisbanetokeppel.com