Torres Straits

[Sevi]

Hello- In a few months, I’ll be single handling my IP38 from Townsville to Darwin, Australia via the Torres Straits.

Can anyone offer any advice, based on personal knowledge or experience, as to the best routing to take up the East Coast (inside or outside the Great Barrier Reef) and through the Torres Straits?

Thank you in advance.

[Tillsbury]

You could do worse than check out Sailing Florence on YouTube, who have recently been this way and give useful comments.

[Wotname]

Allan Lucas "Cruising the Coral Coast" is the bible for this area.

Most go inside as the coast line north of Cairns is magnificent and the anchorages are wonderful.

Navigation is super easy on the inside route as it is designed to stop shipping running around!

The section of the Torres Strait that you will be using is also easy although the tides can be fierce and need to be considered carefully.

You are planning a dry season cruise so beware the trade wind (especially north of Cooktown) is much stronger and more consistent than the trades around Townsville.

It will blow SE 25 to 30 during the day and 20 to 25 at night if it eases at night. The seas are pretty flat as the reef is so close to the coast.

Don't even consider waiting for it to drop or you will be waiting until the next wet season .

Wonderful part of Australia and I count the couple of years living in and around the Torres Strait as an highlight of my life.

[RaymondR]

You can day sail the entire voyage except for the section across the gulf.

Lucas is good for the Queensland section but the NT coast and anchorages not so well described. There is a cruising guide titled Northern Territory Coast by John M Knight which is fairly comprehensive but not so well presented as Lucas.

Coming back is not quiet as easy as getting there since you are working against the SE trades.

You can get fuel at Torres Strait and Gove.