Please select your home edition
Edition
SCIBS 2025 Exhibitors

Gold Coast to Brisbane Great Race 2013 - A Weta point of view

by Miranda Powrie on 13 Feb 2013
Approaching a curve in the channel in the great race - Gold Coast to Brisbane Great Race Peter Schwarzel
The Great Race, a 20 mile distance race from Southport Yacht Club in the Gold Coast to Weirman creek near Brisbane was favoured with the addition of three Wetas this year. A popular local multi race for off the beach cats and dinghies it weaves up the channels of the broadwater and across Morton Bay, making for some tricky and tactical sailing, with a lot of sandbanks to avoid!

This year the breeze ranged from five to fifteen knots of mostly south easterly breezes, making for a reaching and downwind course, which took just on four hours for the Wetas, with a close battle between the single handed sailors Kevin and Greg for the lead, Kevin describes how the race went for him. 

One section was a very narrow channel and the wind was right up the transom and Greg and I did jibe after jibe after jibe. Neither of us counted but is could not have been less than 50. With maybe 1/2nm to the finish I passed Greg yet again and had to continually jibe and cover Greg as he made gains in the puffy breeze. He managed to get a puff that pushed him and I had to push him until I got the breeze and then shoot for the line. The finishing margin was about 2sec. Very close racing in very testing conditions. A great race that I will certainly do again next year.


MySail CrewRolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Related Articles

Kojiro Shiraishi - the IMOCA fleet's Obi-Wan!
The Japanese sailor is set to start his third Vendée Globe on Sunday Kojiro Shiraishi is the skipper of the IMOCA DMG MORI in the Vendée Globe. At the age of 26 he became the youngest sailor to complete a non-stop single-handed circumnavigation, twice finished 2nd in the solo BOC Challenge.
Posted today at 6:15 pm
L'Occitane Sailing Team set for the Vendée Globe
Clarisse Crémer: "I want to be more confident this time" Four years after completing her first solo circumnavigation of the globe, Clarisse Crémer is preparing to repeat the experience, albeit in a completely new way.
Posted today at 5:09 pm
Savvy Navvy signs Australian and NZ distributor
As the company continues to make digital navigation solutions more accessible for boaters Marine technology company Savvy Navvy has signed Australia-based Paddy Wester as its exclusive Australian and New Zealand distributor, as the company continues to make digital navigation solutions more accessible for boaters.
Posted today at 9:50 am
Lexus of Tasmania Maria Island Race Preview
A quality fleet will set off on the 180-mile race on Friday The 77th Lexus of Tasmania Maria Island Race starts from Castray Esplanade at 19:00 on Friday evening, hosted by The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.
Posted today at 9:19 am
Magenta project: Pathways of three top sailors
The Magenta Project connects with Sam Davies, Pip Hare, and Mariana Lobato as they share their paths This weekend six women, a record, are starting in the Vendee Globe, which is one of the few sailing events offering open racing between men and women. Although the Vendee has not been won by a woman, the last two round the world races have.
Posted today at 7:57 am
SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody - Now just €50
Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: Was €120 | Now €50 - Order yours today! Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: WAS €120 | NOW €50 - Order yours today! Ideal Xmas gift for America's Cup fans! Get your souvenir hoody on the America's Cup champion!
Posted today at 4:04 am
NZ Match Racing Nationals start next Wednesday
16 top competitors will contest the NZ Match Racing Na in what promises to be an electrifying event The New Zealand Match Racing Championship (NZMRC) will take place from November 14th to 17th at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, bringing together 16 top competitors in what promises to be an electrifying event.
Posted today at 2:11 am
36th SCIBS already set to be a showstopper
The much anticipated 36th edition of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show The much anticipated 36th edition of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) is on track to showcase the most spectacular vessels and marine products available in Australia during one of the boating world's most popular weeks.
Posted today at 12:24 am
Nacra 17 Europeans at Sferracavallo Day 1
First two races completed in light winds The first day of the Nacra 17 European Championship has officially begun at the Circolo Velico Sferracavallo! In light winds of 9 knots, gradually decreasing to 7-8 knots, the fleet of 18 boats and 36 sailors completed two races.
Posted on 6 Nov
Conrad Colman: From the Rockies to the Vendée
Competing with a boat which is entirely fossil fuel free Conrad Colman grew up in New Zealand, went to High School and College in America, and then immediately went to Europe having fallen in love with the Vendée Globe.
Posted on 6 Nov