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Old 01-04-2020, 14:51   #1
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Circumnavigating via southern Australia

I don't see it very often. Seems like most circumnavigators cross the northern coast of Australia or go in to Indonesia. What about taking the southern Australia route? Pros and Cons?
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Old 01-04-2020, 15:24   #2
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Re: Circumnavigating via southern Australia

Not clear what direction your circumnavigation is going. If you are westbound you go north of Oz; if you are eastbound you go south - in both cases unless you are seriously masochistic.
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Old 01-04-2020, 22:56   #3
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Re: Circumnavigating via southern Australia

Across the top going westward for most of the year is with the SE trades and consequently downwind. Going eastward is OK from late October until about March but usually requires a lot of motoring. The Coral and Timor seas are breeding grounds for cyclones during the summer months. Done it four times.

Never done the southern route it's too cold down there even in the summer.
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Old 01-04-2020, 23:28   #4
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Re: Circumnavigating via southern Australia

you do not want to go east to west across the aussie bight in anything less than 500grt

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Old 02-04-2020, 00:02   #5
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Re: Circumnavigating via southern Australia

This is an interesting read about one yacht crossing the bight.
Sailing with Nine of Cups Crossing the Great Australian Bight
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Old 02-04-2020, 00:04   #6
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Re: Circumnavigating via southern Australia

In the old days of clipper ships, I think the record is 22 knots west to east in the roaring 40s.
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Old 02-04-2020, 00:12   #7
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Re: Circumnavigating via southern Australia

The southern route both east and west bound is done my cruising yachts all the time, heading west during the summer months is done with ease. There are many places to see and safe anchorages aplenty. This cruise also has the added benefit of many secluded anchorages.

Most people get all worried about the Bight, there are excellent cruising grounds up the west coast of South Australia and when heading west you can head to the Recherche Archipelago (Esperance) with amazing spots all to yourself most of the time. True the the Bight is approx 550 nm without any great anchorage as you are approx 100 nm from the coast in the middle, but it is sailed all the time.

The temperature during summer is good, during winter the cruise can be done but the cold fronts come through often making it a more difficult passage. There are cruising guides for the whole passage if you do some searching.
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Old 02-04-2020, 00:31   #8
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Re: Circumnavigating via southern Australia

Perfectly do-able in the summer with highs lying over the Bight rather than over the continent and giving you either easterlies or 'glass'.

The head of the Bight is about 2 degrees of latitude north of Syney, NSW.

When you tie up at the Fremantle Sailing Club you will get a week's free mooring and be told that you are the first person every to have done that crossing - Both of the two crews I actually know who have done it were told that.... one used charts I had lent them and started out from Strahan, Tas

Apart from Easterlies you will often get a bit of west going current...

I note the comment by Nine of Cups re their anchor.... I have been given to understand that a Swarbrick or similar is the anchor of choice in these waters.

Note.... before becoming a full time Bass Strait Cowboy in the late 80's I spent from '74 to '79 running across the Bight in the day job .. first with sugar from Qland to the west and then with Alcoa running from Kwinana to Point Henry in Port Phillip so got to know the Bight fairly well. Westbound all seasons we would head up either close south of Kangaroo Island or -in winter - through Backstairs Passage until we were in the latitude of Albany, WA., and then head due west. The difference between the weather up there and the weather coming back east on a GC was remarkable.

So, yes, quite do-able in the right season.....
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Old 02-04-2020, 02:13   #9
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Re: Circumnavigating via southern Australia

Just came across the Bight East to West in February.


We set off from Port Lincoln, although Kangaroo Island or Coffin Bay would have been better.


Our next Port of call was Albany in WA - Once we got out to deep water (1000M +) the swell was great and we had E to ESE with a low of 5Kts to a High of 30Kts - Averaging around 20Kts. Although for the last 12 hours we had 15-20Kts on the nose and motored into Albany - Did the crossing in 6 days.



Out of Albany on the next leg we had 7-8m swell and a solid 35Kts gusting to a top of 42Kts for about 16 hours, but again it was all downwind, so was fine.


Coming up the West Coast the wind was intermittent and we stopped for a day here and a day there waiting for wind.


If you pick the right time of year and weather window its not a problem going East to West across the bight.
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Old 02-04-2020, 03:35   #10
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Re: Circumnavigating via southern Australia

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Laurief, and Diamond-Esp.
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Old 02-04-2020, 11:28   #11
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Re: Circumnavigating via southern Australia

Following.
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Old 05-04-2020, 13:19   #12
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Re: Circumnavigating via southern Australia

Another advantage of the southerly route is that you can go to Tasmania on the way.
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