New Zealand to Australia First Crossing - Crazy ?

[Poozer]

I just purchased a catamaran in New Zealand, and now I need to bring it back to Australia. I have never done a crossing before, but I have done a lot of coastal sailing. Am I crazy to do this as a first offshore voyage on a boat I have never sailed before? At the very least I will find some crew with experience and use a weather router. What do y'all think?

[dirkdig]

Get someone with Catana experience and it will be fine.
Great first trip to do, they are a specific type of cat to sail and fly under the right conditions.
Which catana did you buy?
We looked at one over there 20 months ago called damojo,previously called la vie en rose but could not get the deal done.

Dirk

[savoir]

The weather can change pretty fast down there but keep yourself short sailed and you should be fine. Take all the usual safety stuff including 406 EPIRB.

It isn't a race.

[ozskipper]

I did the opposite trip a few years back. Only three of us on a Davidson 55 out of Gladstone QLD. One of the guys had circumnavigated the globe professionaly, so I felt pretty comfy.

I would have a chat to a few of the old salts around the sailing club and see if you cant pick up someone with some experience to assist. Not that its a hard trip but its good to have that extra experience on board.

We did Gladstone to Auckland in ten days. What is your destination in OZ?

[boatman61]

Not crazy at all.... you've got to star sometime and this is as good a reason as any...
Just start out in a good weather window and have fun....
Crossings are easier than coastal sailing.... the stress factor is down to you... not the proximity of the coast

[dana-tenacity]

I have done lots of deliveries, including a new Catana across the Atlantic. and about 7 or 8 times across the Tasman. Currently in Auckland. Give me a call

editor@crew.org.nz
or 021 760 621

[dirkdig]

I much prefer the open ocean sailing to bays and harbours, you are not constantly trying not to hit other boats and channel markers etc.
You still need to keep a look out but you can really learn about your new baby on a week trip like this

[ozskipper]

As I told my mother before I crossed the Ditch in 99. "Dont worry the boat will never be more than 5k's from land". I didnt tell her that the land I was talking about was 5000 meters below us. But it seemed to have a calming effect all the same