2008 Beijing Olympic Games representative and Dual Laser World Champion, Tom Slingsby will be taking on the Laser fleet, his first since dominating the competition at the Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth, England, in September.

Australian Sailing Team member Mathew Belcher will be competing at the Sail Brisbane race as well, although not in his usual 470, Belcher will be racing a Foiling Moth with the exciting class of boat featuring as a display class. Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron will be hosting the ISAF Grade 2 race in the club's 125th year of sailing, with the three race courses being held on Waterloo Bay. Sail Brisbane 2009 welcomes the RS:X class for the very first time, with OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team member Joanna Sterling ready to compete.

The Finn class also returns to the race following a seven year absence. Its entrants will include: Brendan Casey and current Etchells World Champion Bucky Smith. The Australian Sailing Development Squad will be well represented at the race with Klade Hauschildt, Ryan Palk, Tom Brunning and Ashley Brunning all contesting the Laser sail class. In the Laser Radial class ASDS members Ashley Stoddart, Gabrielle King and Laura Baldwin will all be taking to the waters of Waterloo Bay. The Sail Brisbane venue will have an international feel in 2009 with eleven countries being represented thus far, including Finland, Ireland, Japan, India, and the USA.

Sail Brisbane is the opening round of the 2009 Sail Down Under series and following the race competitors will then head south for Sail Sydney starting December 5-8 and Sail Melbourne from December 14-19.