The Great Race Gold Coast to Brisbane announced for 2012

10:57 PM Sat 13 Aug 2011 GMT

'The Great Race, from the Gold Coast to Brisbane, is open to dinghies and multihulls.' Southport YC

The Great Race - Australia's most unique and exciting sailing challenge for off-the-beach dinghies and catamarans - will be staged by Southport Yacht Club on the Gold Coast, Queensland on 25 February 2012.

This highly entertaining and equally testing 70 kilometre marathon is possibly the longest and most challenging event of its kind in Australia. It takes the fleet on a journey north from the Gold Coast, first through the meandering channels of the Broadwater, then across Moreton Bay to the finish at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron at Manly.

This is a race where the competition is as fierce as it is fun from start to finish. Initially the scenic, narrow and twisting waterways between the mainland and the Broadwater islands test competitors' boat handling skills, then the wide open waters of Moreton Bay call for tactics and speed.

This is the eighth time The Great Race has been staged and organisers at Southport Yacht Club are hoping for a fleet of more than 100 boats from throughout Queensland and interstate. The current race record is 2hrs 57m 18s for multihulls and 3hrs 44m 48s for monohulls. The majority of the fleet usually takes between four and six hours to complete the course.

The chosen date for the race has favourable tidal conditions for much of the day. Entries are open to all off-the-beach dinghies with a yardstick rating less than or equal to 109, and all off-the-beach multihulls with yardstick no higher than 100.

A fun social agenda is also being planned around the race.

To enter go to the Southport Yacht Club website - www.southportyachtclub.com.au

For more information contact the Southport Yacht Club's Sailing Manager, Shane Smith: shane(at)southportyachtclub.com.au - or phone (07) 5537 7030

by Shane Smith

Newsfeed supplied by

#News #Sailing #North

The Great Race Gold Coast to Brisbane announced for 2012

Sports/News

Weather Forecasts & Live Reports

Buy & Sell/Classifieds