Outimage Australia - 61st Brisbane to Gladsone - Ray Roberts wins Brisbane to Gladstone with Quantum Racing.

The outimage dot net ocean yacht racing banner is an image of Roger Sturgeon's Transpac 65 Rosbud from the United States, working up Hobart's Derwent River into the late afternoon to take out an overall win of the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The photograph was taken by Peter Andrews.

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Ray Roberts wins Brisbane to Gladstone with Quantum Racing
By Ian Grant, Queensland Cruising Yacht Club
16:00 AEST April 12, 2009.

2009 Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race icon.

Champion Sydney blue water yacht racing skipper Ray Roberts successfully steered his high performance Cookson 50 class sloop Quantum Racing to an outstanding win in the Brisbane to Gladstone race.

Quantum Racing was a firm favourite after winning last year’s 60th Anniversary classic followed by similar impressive victories in the Audi Sydney to Gold Coast race and the Meridien Marinas Race Week off Airlie Beach.

Ray Roberts' Cookson 50 Quantum Racing offshore Sydney during the 2007 Rolex Trophy Ratings Series.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

Ray Roberts' Cookson 50 Quantum Racing offshore Sydney during the 2007 Rolex Trophy Ratings Series. Photo copyright Peter Andrews.

Skipper Roberts openly admitted he is a self confessed lover of ocean racing in Queensland: "The Gladstone Race is among my favourites."

"By nature all of the 308 nautical miles of the course are challenging but the wind and water is like the hospitality, warm and friendly."

Ray Roberts' Cookson 50 Quantum Racing ahead of Geoff Boettcher's Reichel Pugh 47 Secret Mens' Business 3, after the start of the 2008 Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

"Quantum Racing will be back on the start line in 2010," added the happy Ray Roberts.

The popular skipper had good reason to be in a relaxed and happy mood adding the 2009 victory to his previous wins with Quantum Racing in 2008 and Millennium in 1995.

Graeme Wood's TP52 Wot Now, racing offshore Sydney during the 2008 Rolex Trophy Ratings Series.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

Graeme Wood's TP52 Wot Now, racing offshore Sydney during the 2008 Rolex Trophy Ratings Series. Photo copyright Peter Andrews.

His crew including experienced navigator Richard Hudson and master tactician Steve McConaghy combined cleverly to emerge from a course long tactical ‘dog fight’ to finish ahead of the almost identical match racing TP52 class sloops Wot Now (Graeme Wood) and the Bill Sykes skippered Wot Yot.

Skippered by Bill Sykes in the 61st Brisbane to Gladstone, Graeme Wood's TP52 Wot Yot running down to Fort Denison on Sydney Harbour during the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge 2008.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

The Quantum Racing crew built on a tactically smart start to hold the upper hand when they cleared Moreton Bay and then protected the margin to complete the course with a 5.1 second per mile advantage over Wot Yot and third placed Wot Now to claim a well deserved win in Queensland’s premier blue water classic.

For further information including a list of yachts entered in the 2009 Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, go to the official race site http://www.brisbanetogladstone.com.au

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