The 1988 Goodman Fielder Wattie Bicentennial Around Australia Yacht Race, began at 0808hrs on August 8, 1988, from Sydney Harbour with a fleet of 25 yachts. The doublehanded “Two Sail 88” fleet consisted of six monohulls and seven multihulls. Another 13 fully crewed yachts also started then, although they raced a different course and format.

The race was a challenging 7,000-mile (11,000 km) marathon, a doublehanded event with several stopovers around the continent.

The overall line honors winner was Kiwi crew of the late Sir Peter Blake and Mike Quilter in the 60ft trimaran Steinlager in a total time of 45 days, seven days ahead of the next rival the Aussie trimaran Verbatim sailed by Cathy Hawkins and Ian Johnston. Alby Burgin (1915-2008) a well known Lake Macquarie sailor won the monohull division in his Alstar.

The race was also notable for events on the first night, including one multihull capsizing and tragically, a crew member, Geoff Courtis, being lost overboard from the yacht Boundary Rider.

All above images courtesy, Don McIntyre, Gavin Lesuer and Ian Johnston.