Bass Strait Crossing

Eden to Flinders Island, 27-28 January 2015

Warning for the non-sailors reading: All sailing, not much scenery!

At 0605 on Tuesday we started the motors, checked we still had 2 propellors and motored out of East Boyd Bay in company with Kailani to start the 220nm passage to Flinders Island off the NE coast of Tasmania. Our weather window was for 18 hours of light winds before the winds from the SE slowly increased on Wednesday to 20 to 25 knots. We knew it would take about 34 hours to cover the distance as we anticipated quite a bit of motoring. The main reason we decided to leave with this forecast was that the seas were small and the swell was in the right direction.

We had a light SW early that allowed us to sail with pods of dolphins often enjoying our company. At 1100 it was on with a motor in the very light northerlies to keep our miles ticking over. We motorsailed until 2000 when the breeze went to the south and very light. At this point the sea was like glass and I was thinking we were missing the full Bass Strait experience.

Bass Strait

We dropped the main and started the second engine to keep our average speed up. At 2320 we raised the main with a double reef and motorsailed until 0700 when we finally got to silence the motors.

Dawn and seas still slight

We had motorsailed east of the course rhumbline so we were well positioned when the breeze filled in as expected from the SE. By now the seas had built with the wind to 2-3 meters and 25 knots. We were getting the full experience after all. At 0800 on Wednesday we put in the third reef and retreated to the warmth of the saloon as we sped towards out first land sighting of Outer Sister Island. We had the occasional bigger swell give the windows and saloon roof a good wash but overall it was fairly comfortable. Once we approached the Sister Islands we enjoyed a favourable current that helped us cover the last 26nm in 3 hours.

In the lee of Flinders Island, the seas finally flattened and we were happy to complete our first Bass Strait crossing with the anchor down in Killiecrankie Bay at 1610. We took 34 hours for the 220nm at an average of 6.5 knots.

The bay here is beautiful, towering granite hills, white sandy beach and good holding for the strong winds predicted for the next 2 days. We now have a week to get to Hobart, still 250nm away, but it is coastal day hops from here.

Kailani in Killiecrankie

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