tophatyachts.com

G-day All Top Hatters,

I am considering a cruise to Tasmania in early 2013.

The CYC is also going that way then, so we/I can use a bit of their planning.
I think the wooden boat show will be on that year also.

And I will have forgotten the few hardships from my voyage to the Whitsundays!

Health, weather and all things considered in early 2013.

All welcome:

If just for the planning;

Or on your own Top Hat for the complete voyage

Or just part of the voyage [Maybe a weekend in Jervis Bay?].

All advise and comments most welcome.

Phillip.

A more serious undertaking than going North. Be a long trip in a Top Hat but could be a lot of fun!

Not so storm petrel!

Its 1025 nautical miles to the Whitsundays but only 630 nm to Hobart!

Even less [530nm] if you only count to the mainland of Tasmania.


See this:-

http://skipr.net/wp/goodies/robs-passage-planner/

This free planner has all the distances between anchorages from Hobart to Cairns.
I used this on my voyage, highly recommended. Updated each year.

Phillip.

Count Blue Moon in, to cruise in company, for at least part of the way.

cheers

Phillip,

Yes you are right! I meant 'long' in terms of the shitty seas and winds you are likely to have to negotiate rather than in terms of the rhumb line length. I have not crossed Bass Straight but friends who have tell me it can be pretty horrible(as can the seas off the far south coast). Still, you could get lucky with a good weather window. What month were thinking of going? Storm Petrel might be interested to tagging along for some of the way.

Cheers,
Mark

Mark, Shaun and other Top Hatters,

I am thinking of January 2013 as soon as the weather settles down after the festive season with a return [after the equinox] in late March early April.

I think a slow passage south is in order with a quick as possible return.

By slow passage I mean that visits, collecting or visiting other Top Hatters, would be made to Port Stephens, New Castle, Lake Macquarie, Broken Bay, Sydney, Botany Bay, Port Hacking, Jervis Bay, Batemans Bay, Bermagui and Eden. Expect delays of up to two weeks for the weather!

Then the big jump to Wilsons Promontory or down to Tasmania. I haven’t looked at the planning for that bit yet. Any comments on this section will be gladly received.

I see Eden as to ‘go’ or ‘no go’ point, even for me!

I have a bit of info that I have collected and I will post that after Xmas.

Phillip.

G'Day all,
One of the yachties from Port Hacking was invited to a wedding in Melbourne. He decided to sail single handed to Melb in his Hunter 54, "Chasseur". An achievement even in that.

When he got to Melb he was looking at the charts and decided that Tassie (Launceston) is not that far away if you hop from there to, is it Flinders or King Is and then to the Tamar River. He made it up to Launceston.
Its an option. Maybe the locals in Melb can help?

Someone a couple of years ago has sailed a laser across Bass Straight from Tassie to the mainland. I Think I'd be taking Felicite though.
I'm interested but I don't think I'd do it.
Greg.

Hi Everyone,

The reason I bought a Top Hat was to (eventually!) sail to Tasmania. Plenty of other boats here in Melbourne suitable for bay sailing but not good for Bass Strait.

Some years ago I met a couple who had sailed their Top Hat to Tassie 16 times from Melbourne.

However if you are coming from the North, you don't have to go into Bass Strait at all, unless you want to go to Wilson's Prom or one or more of the islands.

There used to be a post (in For Sale I think - life raft?) from a TH owner who sailed down to Tasmania. Don't know if he is still contactable.

I am looking at Appollo Bay, King Island, Stanley, Davenport (maybe Launceston) then back to Port Phillip over a few weeks. Ideally in Feb/March when the winds are kinder.

Cheers,

Tom

Greg and Tom,

Your info is good. Tom, can you still contact the bloke who's done it 16 times?

From what I've read, the crossing months of February/March are OK, but we, to the north,
need to set out earlier so that we can take advantage of those kind winds.

I should mention that I will do this singlehanded again, so the longest sail will be 30 hours!
I will just have to plan around that fact. I haven't yet got to that stage of the planning.

The CYC is going to Tasmania in 2013, it will be interesting to see their plan when its published.

Phillip.

Phillip,

I met the couple 7 years ago through people I met at a club function and have not sighted them since.
Interestingly their boat had and aircooled Lister diesel.

Down at Mornington one trip I met a bloke from Western Port who built up a MkIII from mouldings and sailed single handed to Tassie in day hops stopping at various islands, waiting until the weather was right.

Cheers,

Tom