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exciting new sponsorship with the Brisbane to gladstone now becoming the gladstone ports corporation brisbane to gladstone yacht race
13 January 2021
We are delighted to announce the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race future is assured with a new partnership.
At a time when Australian sporting events are under increasing pressure, struggling to keep sponsors and battling constant cancellation threats, the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club’s Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race (B2G) has bucked the trend, announcing an exciting partnership, ensuring the viability of this iconic event well into the future.
The signing of a historic partnership this week has resulted in the race securing a long-term Title or Naming Rights Sponsorship with the Gladstone Ports Corporation, conferring generous support for the Club and, in particular, the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race in its 73rd year.
Ian Gidlow, Commodore of the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club couldn’t be happier. ‘After the rigours of COVID-19 in 2020, resulting in the loss of major sponsorship and subsequently the cancellation of our great ocean race, it is especially rewarding for my hard-working team of volunteers to see this wonderful partnership formed, providing security and certainty for the future of the race for the term of the agreement’ said Commodore Gidlow.
Acting CEO of the Gladstone Ports Corporation, Mr Craig Walker is delighted to see the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race back on the calendar in 2021.’
Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) is honoured to partner with such an important and iconic event for the entire region and the state’, said Mr Walker. ‘We have a long history of supporting the community and we are excited to play a role in ensuring the viability and continuance of this treasured and historic Queensland race.’
B2G Race Director Karen Somerville is ecstatic with the announcement. ‘This generous partnership with Gladstone Ports Corporation provides financial certainty for the race and now our B2G team can move to ensure delivery of a very special event from 11 am this Good Friday and into the future.’
With the partnership to continue until at least 2023, the year of the 75th Gladstone Ports Corporation Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race it is indeed exciting times in the history of this major Queensland sporting event.
Official Time Keeper to the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race
Adina celebrates 50 Years of Australian watch manufacturing history as the official time keeper of the legendary Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race.
The Brisbane to Gladstone Race Committee is exited to announce a new partnership with Adina Watches as the official time keeper commencing with the 2021 Race.
Iconic Australian watch brand, Adina, is known for its deep involvements with sporting events. Headlining last year at the Adina Polocrosse World Cup and with deep involvement with hockey, triathlon and cycling to individual sport such as golf. This year, the brand celebrates their 50th year and with that will turn their attention to sailing. In their home state of Queensland, the 73rd edition of the blue water classic will be timed by Adina.
“In fact, there is a very close relationship with the event through one of our oldest retail partners ‘Patricks Jewellers’ in Gladstone whose owners have started the race a whopping 50 times and winning it on no fewer than four occasions aboard the legendary “Wistari!” exclaimed Adina General Manager Grant Menzies.
In this coming Brisbane to Gladstone, Grandson of four-time winner Noel Patrick, Andrew will again take on the elements for an eighth time with the aim to take home the silverware. “The significance of winning it especially in my family, is enormous! To go down in the history books as the winner is pretty exciting considering the company that you are there alongside!” Andrew said.
The 308 nautical mile race which has been described in understated terms as “very tough” has seen some incredible weather befall it including a cyclone. It is these conditions which make it a veritable test of seamanship and why winning it is so rewarding.
The Adina partnership will see the winning crew presented each with a very special edition Adina watch. So special in fact, that the only way to own one is to be a part of the winning crew. The actual watch is being kept under wraps until the race start but Adina Watches, General Manager Grant Menzies has assured us it is “something spectacular, that the sailors will wear with pride!” and with Adina pedigree for building water resistant watches, it will be keenly anticipated.
With Queensland’s stunning Moreton Bay as the backdrop and with the unfortunate cancellation of this year’s Sydney to Hobart classic, the field in the 2021 Brisbane to Gladstone is sure to be more competitive than ever!
Members are advised that the Amendments to the Constitution of Queensland Cruising Yacht Club Inc adopted at the 2020 Annual General meeting were accepted by the Office of Fair Trading and consequently registered by it on 10 December 2020. Links to the current version of the Constitution have been made elsewhere on this website. The Constitution as now current is available at this link, QCYC Inc. Constitution.
Our Patron’s Symbolic Gift to Gladstone
Earlier in September 2020, our Patron the Governor, The Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, was in Gladstone, hosting Regional Government House – where Government House moves to a regional centre for a week.
While there, the Governor gifted the shell casing from the starter’s gun at last year’s (2019) Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, mounted on redwood from the Government House estate, to the Mayor Matt Burnett, and the people of Gladstone.
This was in recognition of the importance of the race to the Gladstone people, and reinforces the strong vice-regal links to the race.
Club Burgees for Sale
QCYC is proud to offer for sale our stunning range of new Burgees (featuring elements of the club logo as pictured here.) For sale to Full Members, Family Members and Life Members. Sizes range as follows:
Large 670mm long – Price $65.00 (including GST)
Medium 530mm long – Price $50.00 (including GST)
Purchases may be made personally at our Administration office.
Alternatively you may place a request (and order by credit card) with our office by telephoning the office during hours on the number displayed below at the foot of this web page. Postage charges add a further $7.00.
Message from the Governor of Queensland – 30 April 2020
As Governor of Queensland and Patron of the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club, I have been privileged to act as the Official Starter of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race every year since 2015.
Kaye and I were looking forward to boarding the South Pacific II once again on 10 April for the start of the 2020 race, and were more than a little disappointed when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the first cancellation of this iconic Queensland event in its long history.
We know our disappointment is shared by every club member and by the owners, skippers, crew members and supporters who had committed so much time and effort to preparing for the 2020 race.
The repercussions of cancelling an event of this size and complexity are immense. However, we know it has survived perilous times – including Cyclone Emily in 1972. With such a track record, I am confident that the Club has the determination and strength to confront whatever metaphorical storms and rough seas lie ahead.
One of my predecessors as Governor of Queensland was Sir Henry Abel Smith. His remarks before officially starting the 1959 race could well have applied to the situation today.
The Start of the 70th Anniversary Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race in 2018
“We all admire toughness, endurance and good team work”, he said, “and we all know that this race is not an easy one”.
Navigating the course to 2021 may indeed be testing, but I have every confidence that, next autumn, Kaye and I will be with you once again for another spectacular start to the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race.
His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC
Governor of Queensland