Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race set to boost tourism in regional city after COVID-19 downturn

Peter Harburg was just six years old when he got his first taste of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race.

«I saw the very first one in 1948. My father took me down for the start of it,» he said.

«I was very intrigued by these giant yachts, which are probably a third of the length of [the boats] today.

»They looked big to me as a six-year-old, and I've sort of been interested in sailing ever since."

The owner of yacht Black Jack is no stranger to Queensland's flagship race, with his team, led by skipper Mark Bradford, winning with the current yacht and its previous iterations eight times.

It is also the currentrace record holder, completing the race in 16 hours, 53 minutes and 57 seconds in 2018.

Last year, Black Jack made history by being the first Queensland boat to take line honours in the Sydney to Hobart race.

«The Brisbane to Gladstone race is one of the most important on the Australian calendar,» Mr Harburg said.

«It's our big Queensland race, and it attracts a lot of good boats.

»We're looking forward to it."

The race sets sail in Moreton Bay, near Shorncliffe, on Good Friday at 11am before concluding in the early hours of Saturday morning near Gladstone.

Queensland Cruising Yacht Club vice commodore Harley Cowlishaw said there were 38 yachts taking part in this year's race.

«We've also got the two handicap winners of the Sydney to Hobart in the fleet, which is Alive and Ichi Ban, so it is a very high-quality fleet in this year's race,» Mr Cowlishaw said.

«The forecast is 15 to 20 knots from the south-east, which should give everyone a very quick ride to Gladstone.»

Mr Cowlishaw said they had not been able to hold a proper race for the past two years due to COVID.

«We had one year where the race was totally cancelled, and last