Adelaide to Tasmanian East Coast via King Is or Furneaux Grp?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Weyalan

If you have the time and decide not to "risk" the West Coast passage, you can always get to Davey from around the bottom - its a long day sail to Port Davey from Recherche Bay.

After the glowing reports on the West Coast from CF members I think I would be constantly wondering what I missed out on if I skipped the west coast.

The point is made well that with planning and patience the right weather can be picked and the trip is well worth making. I loved Strahan when I visited 13 years ago, I think I just needed to find the courage to try the west coast route and the advice here helps.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

As mentioned, Macquarie Harbour , the Gordon River and Port Davey are superb destinations. Try to allow at least a week and better two weeks in Davey... just a fascinating place!

I'm not good at answering very general queries, but will be happy to attempt answering any more specific ones that you might have.

Jim, I think your advice here answers one general question very well. Should I go down the West Coast? The answer is clearly yes.

I note from your signature that you are currently a long way from your boat, will you be back in Tassie soon?

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by sctpc

Read Tasmania - good info and for $5 you get real honest info.

Jim Cate, what ground tackle do you use I bought a sarca 2 sizes bigger but have not tried it in weed.

We currently use a 60 lb Manson Supreme on 10 mm chain. On our previous 36 ft boat (in which we did many Tassie trips) we used a 20 kg Bruce.

The Bruce was hopeless in heavy weed, but in most anchorages we visited one can find patches where the weed is missing. We have not tried the Manson in heavy weed in Tassie... works ok in thin growth but we still try to avoid those bottoms.

Lots of folks using Sarcas in Oz, but I have no personal experience with either of their designs so can't comment, other than to say that I see no reason that they shouldn't work if properly sized and deployed.

Cheers,

Jim

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by GILow

Jim, I think your advice here answers one general question very well. Should I go down the West Coast? The answer is clearly yes.

I note from your signature that you are currently a long way from your boat, will you be back in Tassie soon?

GI, another option is to go down the E coast and return up the W coast. One way of looking at it is that on the E coast there are numerous anchorages good in S'ly quadrant winds and fewer that are good in N'lies. So, when trying to get S, there are more places to hole up during adverse wind conditions. Obviously one can do it either way!

As to our plans... we are here dealing with some medical issues, and as of yet they are not resolved. This means that we can't predict our return date, but rest assured that it will be ASAP... we really miss our normal lives (though perhaps not the low single digit temps!) . Meanwhile Weyalan stops by and gives our Insatiable a checkup and a pat on the bum every so often, so we know that she is OK. Thanks, Patrick!

Cheers,

Jim

[GILow]

So, given I am now reconsidering EVERY assumption I made, I should probably question my assumption that January or February are the best time.

Based on a desire for the most trouble free trip possible, doing a full circumnavigation, when would you all recommend making the trip?

At this stage, I am assuming I need to put aside a month, and that, unless I can find more time, I will skip the Furneaux Group and keep them for another trip in the future so I am not rushing them.

Matt

[Weyalan]

Its a well established fact that weather forecasting Tasmania is a crap-shoot at best and sometimes it seems that the weather gods view Tasmania as their own comedy show. January / February are a pretty sound bet, though, but the point is that there is no 100% safe period - you usually get pretty stable weather in March... we cruised for about 18 days and had 25 knots most days! I guess the thing is, though, that once you make it across the pond there are so many good anchorages that you only have to do relatively short day sails and there are plenty of bullet-proof anchorages for most every wind direction.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Weyalan

Its a well established fact that weather forecasting Tasmania is a crap-shoot at best and sometimes it seems that the weather gods view Tasmania as their own comedy show.

An eloquent summary, thank you.

I derived Jan/Feb from the popular wisdom for Bass Strait, and the wind roses from the Admiralty charts. Seems the logic was not completely flawed.

So the plan stays much the same, some time from mid January depending on people/work/time, but now looking at a full counter-clockwise navigation.

Excited!

Matt

[Spirit28]

Originally Posted by Weyalan

Its a well established fact that weather forecasting Tasmania is a crap-shoot at best and sometimes it seems that the weather gods view Tasmania as their own comedy show.

Weyalan - Dunno if I agree with you that that forecasting in Tas is a crap-shoot. My brother has been with the BoM for over 30 years with Marine and Aviation forecasting his specialty. He has provided forecasts to many S2H competitors incl a few winners, Americas Cup syndicates, Round the World races teams, ARC rallies as well as doing stuff for mates on delivery trips etc etc. He also runs lots of marine weather courses around the country for cruising & racing yachtsmen... He has a masters in applied science and currently doing a doctorate. His day time job is forecasting for one of the RAAF FA18 squadrons...

People love to have a crack at the BoM, but in reality it is not supported by fact. His opinion on the accuracy of modern day forecasting differs greatly from us mere mortals and I think you would agree that in 95% of cases the forecasts are spot-on these days - especially 1 to 3 days out. Pretty good odds it you want to take them. For the 5% of the time things go a little awry, you would normally get a feel that things aren't right and constantly seek updates from a number of sources to see how things are panning out so you can plan in advance that anchorage or passage. Sometimes - esp around the Tas coast people fail to take into account the impact of the effects of the mountainous terrain has on weather at a local level and just rely on general broad scale forecasts and wonder why they get the crap beat out of them when they stick their nose around Tasman into that SW, or have no wind on the east coast in the lee of the island when the forecast is calling for 30knt westerlies..


Just say'n.....

[GILow]

Well, I don't want to bag the BOM, they do a lot of really good work, but honestly, when we came around from Melbourne to Adelaide in January, not one day was even close to the forecast wind pattern in the entire 7 day trip. Seriously, I was getting emails/texts from friends asking how were handling wind XXX when we dawdling around in wind YYY. At least it reassured me that I had not goofed with my weather notes taken each day from the BOM site.

In their defence, I put it down to climate change stuffing up the models, but by the end I was probably a bit acerbic when discussing forecasts.

Matt

[Ambler]

Hi Matt,
I would also advise going down the West coast and up the East coast. The Northerlies are delightful on the west coast. Plan to arrive at Hells Gates in the morning (an overnight passage) which gives you time to assess the entry at slack water high tide. You can anchor in Pilot Bay while you wait. When navigating the west coast stay well outside the soundings as there are many uncharted rocks in close that only the fisherman dare to venture. Good provisioning in Strahan before venturing south to Port Davey. Plan at least 3 or more weeks food for Port Davey. It is a stunning place.
Cruising guides will give you the best anchorages in various conditions
RYCT Anchorage Guide of Tassie
Maritime Tasmania by Brettingham-Moore
D'Entrecasteaux Waterways Guide

Last January I sailed from Adelaide through Backstairs, North of King and into the Tamar direct but that was a yacht delivery.
I have circumnavigated twice and what previous posts, Jim, Anne and Giant say is good advice.
Beware of the big tides and currents in Northern Tasmania. Passages like Hunter, Banks Strait, Franklin Sound etc should be planned with the current and avoided when wind and current are counter. Also to be avoided is passing too close around any island in Bass Strait with strong current against wind.
Don't go hugging coastlines in your cruise around Tassie unless you really know what the weather is doing. If in any doubt, stay out! Many anchorages are weedy so apply your South Australian knowledge and experience
You will absolutely love your cruise and the help fellow boaters are willing to give (such as Trevor in Strahan with his local knowledge charts of the harbour).
A return to SA via the East coast, Flinders, Deal, Wilsons Prom and the Victorian coast will be the icing on the cake.
Plan your voyage well and you will reap the rewards

[Weyalan]

Sorry Bill, no disrespect to the BoM was intended.

But I think you have misunderstood me.

You are correct: BoM forecasting for Tasmania is excellent. Usually 100% spot-on out to about 3 or 4 days ahead, and pretty good out to 6 or 7. Any longer than that, and it is, by BoM's own admission, progressively more speculative.

When I said that "forecasting in Tas is a crap shoot", I meant that "trying to predict a good time of year for a multi-week cruise based on the evidence of previous years is not necessarily going to get you a great weather window"

Wanna know what the weather is going to be like in 3 days? Ask BoM - they'll nail it 99% of the time.

Wanna know what the weather is gonna be like next February... roll a dice and cross your fingers!

Originally Posted by Spirit28

Weyalan - Dunno if I agree with you that that forecasting in Tas is a crap-shoot. My brother has been with the BoM for over 30 years with Marine and Aviation forecasting his specialty. He has provided forecasts to many S2H competitors incl a few winners, Americas Cup syndicates, Round the World races teams, ARC rallies as well as doing stuff for mates on delivery trips etc etc. He also runs lots of marine weather courses around the country for cruising & racing yachtsmen... He has a masters in applied science and currently doing a doctorate. His day time job is forecasting for one of the RAAF FA18 squadrons...

People love to have a crack at the BoM, but in reality it is not supported by fact. His opinion on the accuracy of modern day forecasting differs greatly from us mere mortals and I think you would agree that in 95% of cases the forecasts are spot-on these days - especially 1 to 3 days out. Pretty good odds it you want to take them. For the 5% of the time things go a little awry, you would normally get a feel that things aren't right and constantly seek updates from a number of sources to see how things are panning out so you can plan in advance that anchorage or passage. Sometimes - esp around the Tas coast people fail to take into account the impact of the effects of the mountainous terrain has on weather at a local level and just rely on general broad scale forecasts and wonder why they get the crap beat out of them when they stick their nose around Tasman into that SW, or have no wind on the east coast in the lee of the island when the forecast is calling for 30knt westerlies..


Just say'n.....

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Weyalan

Sorry Bill, no disrespect to the BoM was intended.

But I think you have misunderstood me.

You are correct: BoM forecasting for Tasmania is excellent. Usually 100% spot-on out to about 3 or 4 days ahead, and pretty good out to 6 or 7. Any longer than that, and it is, by BoM's own admission, progressively more speculative.

When I said that "forecasting in Tas is a crap shoot", I meant that "trying to predict a good time of year for a multi-week cruise based on the evidence of previous years is not necessarily going to get you a great weather window"

Wanna know what the weather is going to be like in 3 days? Ask BoM - they'll nail it 99% of the time.

Wanna know what the weather is gonna be like next February... roll a dice and cross your fingers!

Well said, mate! I completely agree.

Cheers,

Jim

[dirkdig]

Are you able to take a yacht up the Tamar to Launceston?
Just wondering about ant bridges or powerlines?

[Ambler]

Yes you can take a yacht up the Tamar to Launceston. It takes about 6 hours with the flooding tide. Call for a marina pen at Seaport marina, Wharf space at Tamar river cruises or mooring at Tamar marine.
There are free limited time pontoons to moor alongside at Georgetown, Beauty Point, Kayena, Deviot, Hillwood, Gravelly Beach, Rosevers Hotel and Windermere.
Enjoy your cruise up the Tamar
Wayno

[dirkdig]

Got in last night and sailing up the river now, stunning spot.
Had a quick trip from Victoria too,25-35 knots westerly,fun sail