Darwin to Sydney

[john_kobain]

Hi anyone gone from Darwin to new Zealand
thinking about heading to Auckland,its a long way
any tips would be a big help from anyone who has done this before
many thanks John

[rusky]

We sailed from Darwin to the Gold Coast last year [against the wind]. Happy to give my 2c worth if you wish.

[Sailbad]

tip #1 - turn right.....

[john_kobain]

lol thanks sailbad good tip
i was thinking about straight lining to the top of nz,when we got to Cape York
thats about 2000 n/miles
Rusty how long did it take you?i have never gone that way before and seems to be lots of reefs

[FlyingVet]

Yup, there's a shed load of reefs around the top end. Plus you'll be pushing into the southerlies. I've never had a northerly when trying to head southbound ........

But, no journey is impossible

[rusky]

Originally Posted by john_kobain

lol thanks sailbad good tip
i was thinking about straight lining to the top of nz,when we got to Cape York
thats about 2000 n/miles
Rusty how long did it take you?i have never gone that way before and seems to be lots of reefs

Even in the wet season (aka cyclone season) it is unlikely that the SE will drop below 20kn.

http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/v...uencies124.jpg
Your route, either N to Bramble Cay or a little south to Raine Is. Either way you have Osprey, Bouganville reefs etc. Youwill have to tack a long way towards the Chesterfields. This is also the shipping route so the floating steel islands will be all around (often poorly lit and doing illogical things)

I would always recomend to go inside the Reef. You can tack east to the reefs, south or a little SW towards the shallow stuff and always find a 'hole' if the weather gets too bad. Ships are still in the channel, but you dont always need to be there. The swells are not present, just the wind raised sea state
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/v...518_edited.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/v...uencies091.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/v...uencies109.jpg

Also, from darwin, I would say to go under Croker Is and through the Hole in the Wall as the Gulf and the arafura can be nasty to beat into.
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/v...uencies012.jpg

cheers
David

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by john_kobain

lol thanks sailbad good tip
i was thinking about straight lining to the top of nz,when we got to Cape York
thats about 2000 n/miles
Rusty how long did it take you?i have never gone that way before and seems to be lots of reefs

G'Day mate,

Have you looked at the pilot charts for that route? '

The prevailing winds in that area are SE, and are often pretty stiff. The course is... SE! Hmmm, seems like it is dead to windward.

Don't know what sort of boat you are proposing to do this passage in, but unless it is fairly large, powerful and weatherly, this will be a really hard slog. I say again: really hard.

Ann and I have done our time beating into these trades, and I can't really recommend the activity, especially for a passage of over 2K rhumb-line miles.
You do realize that unless sailing in a Volvo-70 or some such machine your actual sailing distance will be well over 3K miles (most real cruising boats can't make good better than something like 50-55 degrees to the true wind while beating into the sea and swell associated with trade winds).

So, I'd add my vote for getting south inside the reefs... that's hard enough! (You did say you were headed for Sydney in the OP, I think) The best time for this is right about now, when there are sometimes breaks in the SE'lies on the tropical coast, and once south of around Cape Capricorn, often NE'lies.
Then, by choosing your wx you can enjoy pretty nice conditions all the way to the big smoke.

The leg from Darwin to Cape Yorke is unknown to me, so no advice there.

CF member Panaseaya (Jules) did Darwin to Cairns fairly recently, and might be willing to give advice. I know that it was a bugger of a trip for him.

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Southport, Qld, Oz southbound

[FlyingVet]

I'm going the opposite way (Townsville - Darwin) in about a week, must admit I'll be glad to be going North.
However, I do seem to be able to generate headwinds with startling consistency - could act in your favour

I did find 3am - 12pm to be the best times to be sailing south (when clear of 'uncharted reefs').

FV

[ozskipper]

FWIW I did Gladstone to Auckland a few years back on a 55 footer. It was ten days neat- give or take an hour. Best day was 200 miles.

[john_kobain]

Hi
thanks alot guys
i should have said at the start i have a 86 foot steel power cat and after talking it over with the wife,we are going to wait till the end of the cyclone season,we have a 2 year old kid and are not in a hurry.
I am looking into the info above,love the photos by the way Rusty
jk

[rusky]

Hey John,
I would say that it is really smart to wait as the forecast is only 4 days ahead and the 4th day is iffy. A low pressure can change into a cat 3 or even cat 5 within 3 days.

Now a huge power cat means fuel will be an issue. Gove is 400ish nm away. Seisia is another 350 and fuel is via jerry cans. Cairns is a further 6 or 700nm

The old 'mother ships' eg Trinity Bay can refuel but it is a fast feed and the hose has 200L in it before you start.

Also, you will take up a large part of many anchorages.

I hope my comments dont sound too negative, you will have a great adventure. Show us some pics of the boat - or do you have a blog already?
David

[john_kobain]

David i put a photo in my photo album
Cruisers & Sailing Forums - john_kobain's Album: cat

i have very slow internet and will add more later,she holds 8000 lts of fuel and use's 24 lts for both motors an hour at 8 kt
but i have a lot of deck space for drums if i had to
sorry i dont have a blog
cheers John

[rusky]

Thanks John. Looks pretty groovy!

OK at 600L per day at 190nm/day, you'll get down to Yamba on one tank, in one go and it'll take you 2 weeks if you dont stop and nothing breaks.

However with young family, you'll be doing all the watches so, unless you have a crew to help, you will have to section the trip. When we are on pasage, we dont use a 'normal' watch system. I do most as long as I get at least 8 hours rest (about 6 hours sleep/day as a minimum). I get fed when I am hungry and sleep when I am tired. This works with 2 of us or 3 with my son.

If I wasnt stuck on contract at work, We'd come and help you.

email if you like.
David

[john_kobain]

thanks it was build in new zealand by a company that build trains,its a tank
2 guys i worked with on fishing boats will be helping out,we have flown back to nz for chrismas.i will email you when i am doing it as it dont hurt to have a "local" of Aussie waters on board and theres lots of room,i think i have scarred the wife and shes not keen on the trip anymore,just like to say how very beautiful the Kimberly is in NT...i would recommend it to anyone

[chala]

Originally Posted by rusky

Also, from darwin, I would say to go under Croker Is
cheers
David

The Bowen Strait lay to the South of Crocker Is. Be aware than the charted deep of more than 5 meter can be less than 3 meter. So you have a motor boat so I will pass the comments made by John Knight and Alan Lucas mostly made for sailing vessels.

Originally Posted by rusky

the hose has 200L in it before you start.
David

Thanks for the info, I see my-self filling 20 liter cans out of that hose.