Bass Strait Crossing - Info Please.

[Wotname]

Any information regarding crossing the Bass Strait from Vic to (ultimately) Hobart would be very much appreciated.
E.G. Best time of the year, best departure point from Vic, best route, best source of weather information, best local cruising guides, best things to avoid etc.

I know its reputation, I have heard about its changeable weather systems and I understand the effects of its shallow bottom has on wave action so I don't need to much additional information on those aspects, rather I need information on the best way to getting from Victoria (from any port) to Hobart.

I should add the boat is a 31ft sloop fairly well setup for offshore sailing but the crew (especially me) are warm water sailors with no experience of sailing below 32S.

[dirkdig]

Best weather source is www.bom.gov.au and the marine and ocean tab.
The 7 day forcasts tend to be very accurate.
You can use refuge cove at wilsons prom as a waiting point if need be and go straight across from there if it suits.

[sctpc]

Where in Vic? If you would come from WA I think most sail from Adelaide to King island then to Devonport then down the east coast. check out Tasmania | JACKandJUDE.com and http://www.bassvoyager.blogspot.com.au/ are probably the best blogs to help with info Jack is very helpful but may take a couple days to get an email he is currently in Port Davey.

Oh Jan Feb are the when Ill go but it still gets cold.

[BlueSun]

Hi wotname

We crossed from Pt Fairy to King Island which was only an overnight sail. Others depart from Portland or Apollo Bay to King Island. From the east of Vic your best bet may be to go to Flinders Island/the Ferneaux Group. More experienced sailors than us will bound to have advice about conditions. As sctpc says, Captain Jack from Banyandah has always been incredibly helpful to us! We found our crossing challenging with 3m seas on the beam. We are just about to head in the opposite direction, and plan to go from Flinders Islands across to Eden. The swell should be with us this time! If the weather is really cooperative we may go offshore from Wineglass Bay all the way to Eden.

Good luck with your preparations - Tasmania is fabulous.

[southace]

I did Robe to Stanley, Stanley to Devonport, Devenport to Foster island, Foster island to Wineglass bay, Wineglass to Hobart ......all solo apart from the Robe to Stanley passage which I was glad to have crew as Autopilot died! My advise would be cross in the summer when theres nice high pressure sytems!
Return was Hobart to Gabo Island ,Gabo Island to Eden with crew.

[Boracay]

Don't know about Bass Straight but starting up the east coast I'm starting to pay a lot of attention to swell height and wave period.

I've found a period of less than 8 seconds to be unpleasant.

Willyweather for Waterhouse Island has a swell period of under 5 seconds for most of this week. That's gotta be interesting.

[Wotname]

Thanks to all who have replied; I guess there are many more trying to cruise the warmer waters .

Does anyone has a favourite guide to Bass Strait?

BTW, I was in Hobart last weekend and it seems has winter arrived early; single digit max temps with plenty of wind & rain!

[JPA Cate]

Hello Wotname,

We have been back and forth to Tasmania from Eden. This route does not cross Bass Straits. One time, we crossed them, going from Eden to Deal Island, and then on to Beauty Point and the Tamar R. All our crossings have been a bit after the middle of January. We prefer to keep the wind aft of the beam, and our eyes and ears on the weather. We left Deal Is. the same day we arrived because an "active" front was forecast, and beat it's arrival at the Tamar by about 3 hrs.

For cruising guides, we use RYCT Cruising Guide to Tasmania, and Brettingham-Moore's "Cruising Tasmania", about equally. The RYCT one has little maps with land features shown, which are sometimes useful, but it is optimistic about how many boats will "fit" in an anchorage. They suggest there is room in Seaton's Cove for 5 boats, but out boat draws 2.2 m and is 13.75 m o/a: for us it is a one boat anchorage.

If your plans would take you through Denison Canal, you should be aware that MAST (Marine and Safety Tasmania) publish their most recent soundings of the route on the net, and you can print out the chartlet.

Have a good trip; good planning should keep you from getting beat up; and bring warm clothing or get it at an op shop... when you dress for it it's mostly not tooooo cold.

Ann Cate, s/v Insatiable II, lying Morning Cove, NSW

[Wotname]

Thanks Ann, current plan (?) is to get to Hobart before next years wooden boat festival and boat will then remain at Port Huon Marina; plans have a habit of changing - at least mine do .

[BlueSun]

Hi again Wotname
Michael has just updated our blog with a post about our Bass Strait crossing - not sure it will help your planning, but thought you might be interested anyway!
Bass Voyager: Bass Strait crossing
Caitlin and Michael

[Wotname]

Thanks BlueSun, enjoyed reading your blog

[ausaviator]

I was there a short time ago and believe me it was FREEEEEEEZZZZIIINNG !!

[Sweet Chariot]

I did the trip from Botany Bay to Launceston and return in February this year. Had some pretty bad weather on trip home.
You can read about the trip on my blog at www.sweetchariot.blog.com

Steve

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by ausaviator

I was there a short time ago and believe me it was FREEEEEEEZZZZIIINNG !!

Can't have been colder than 2 weeks ago .

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Sweet Chariot

I did the trip from Botany Bay to Launceston and return in February this year. Had some pretty bad weather on trip home.
You can read about the trip on my blog at www.sweetchariot.blog.com

Steve

Thanks Steve , all information is helpful.