The Inaugural Brisbane to Bundaberg Offshore Yacht Race - Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD address

Member for Capalaba, Mr Russell Field MP; Federal Member for Bonner, Mrs Kara Cook MP; Chief Executive Officer, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Ms Karen Baldwin; General Manager, Australian Sailing, Ms Annie Watson; race competitors; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen. 

I acknowledge the Original Custodians of the lands and waters around Brisbane, the Turrbul and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here today.

It has been a great privilege to serve as Patron of this historic club for the past four years, and I am very pleased to have the honour of starting the inaugural Brisbane to Bundaberg Offshore Yacht Race today. 

Adding a new race to the annual program of the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron and to the Australian offshore racing calendar is not a simple decision to be taken on a whim.

It has significant implications for the organisation, and at the outset, I congratulate the Squadron’s Flag Officers, Board of Directors, and Leadership Team on their initiative in launching this ambitious project.

I also thank the many hardworking volunteer members, for their unflagging commitment to seeing it through to fruition. 

And I take this opportunity to commend the Bundaberg Regional Council and Mayor, Helen Blackburn, on their enthusiastic support for this new enterprise.

Together with the many sponsors who have given their generous support to the event, the Mayor and the Council have embraced the vision of what this race can bring to the Bundaberg region, not just this year but well into the future.

From the very beginning of the design and planning process for the Brisbane to Bundaberg, the focus has been on keeping it as simple as possible in order to ensure maximum participation and enjoyment for participants, their families and those who will join the celebrations at the finish line at the Bundaberg Port Marina on Saturday.

This is particularly evident in the decision to make it a Category 3-plus race, with fewer restrictions and compliance requirements. 

The classification has not only made this race accessible to a wider range of competitive craft but has also enabled less experienced sailors to sign on as crew, giving them the opportunity to experience the thrill of an offshore race while developing the skills needed to qualify for higher level races in future. It’s a great initiative.

Another clever and forward-looking decision was to adopt a 250 nautical-mile course. 

With the potential to be completed by nightfall on Friday, this relatively short course addressed two challenges at once – cost and time.

That decision, plus including the race in the South East Queensland Blue Water Series and the Queensland Offshore Ocean Sailing Championship, meant that seven owners signed up straight away when the race was launched in January, while an additional five boats have joined since. 

Sailing has been central to life in Bundaberg since 1887 when the Bundaberg Sailing Club was formed, and this race is a reminder of the enduring appeal and value of this sport to the city. 

My wife and I are very much looking forward to joining the community and visiting sailors at the Bundaberg Port Marina on Saturday, to hear accounts of the voyage. 

Until then, in addition to the traditional sailor’s blessing of ‘fair winds and a following sea’, I wish you Champagne sailing – and no whale strikes!