Paddling from Wilsons prom to Tasmania is on my list of things to do. I have long service leave in 3 years time when
i thing I will do it. Some questions if anyone can help:

1. How many people (estimate) have done this? When was the first successful attempt?

2. When is the best time of year to go?

3. How many people in a crossing is ideal and what kayak set-up? Ie 1 or 2 man kayaks and how many people?

4. Most importantly, who wants to come!? 2010

Michael

Thanks Rafta Kayaks. I will certainly join the VSKC sometime soon, and I shall investigate the SeaLeopard in more detail. The links on your site are great, everything I need to know about the history of the straight I found at http://www.laurieford.net/maatbass.htm

I've had two crossings from 2 attempts, both earlier this year (late Jan, and then April), and both via the (easy) eastern route. Both were done solo mainly because the guys I know who would be interested had already done it. I paddled a Mirage 580, with cockpit slightly enlarged to allow me to paddle comfortably with bent knees (I'm about 6 foot).

The first was an unsuccessful / incomplete attempt from south to north tacked on to the end of a 4 week family holiday in Tassie. It seemed like a great way to get home, and I had allowed two weeks (most people take about 7-10 days, which includes a couple of rest / bad weather days). Unfortunately my first attempt was characterised by strong westerly winds of somewhat unusually protracted duration (about 2 weeks). I think I had a few hours one morning where the winds were less than 15 knots, otherwise it was 15-20kts+ for the first week. The second week was worse, generally 25-30kts or more (one day cracked 50kts!) and I spent 5 days stuck in a hut on the northern end of Flinders Island waithing for decent weather (you want at least a half decent forecast for the open water crossings). I ran out of time, and had to retreat back to the bottom of Flinders Is, where I left my kayak in a shed at the port (Lady Barron), awaiting shipment to the mainland ($150) and then hitched up to Whitemark and flew home to Canberra ($450 all up, and home later that day, airport staff very helpful in arranging flights).

The second attempt (late April) resulted in a return crossing from Wilson's Prom to Flinders Island. Why a double crossing? I had to get back to the car - that simple. This time decent weather (although not the glassy conditions that others seemed to get) and it was all very straight forward. Over and back to Flinders Is in 9 days (one of these a rest day checking out Deal Is). Average daily speed ranging from 5.6km/h (slogging it out against a solid headwind for 7 hrs) to 9.0km/h (Hogan Is to Wilson's Prom with good conditions and slight current assistance).

Some basic advice for prospective paddlers:
1. Do it in a pair or group (someone to talk to and relive experiences with)
2. A group is only as strong as it's weakest link
3. It's pretty easy if the weather is decent.
4. The weather is usually pretty good, even (or particularly) in winter (so the guys at the Bureau of Met tell me)
5. Short days heading into winter will be an issue (it's nice to have a bit of daylight up your sleave)
6. CDMA worked on all islands (but had to climb the odd hill. Next G should be OK
7. Get a mate to text you the weather forecast (from the BOM website) everyday - this info is GOLD and makes the trip very safe
8. The BOM weather forecasts are very reliable / accurate
9. Take a couple of days worth of water (about 10L)
10. Don't take too much food (I ended with 10kg of dry food!!)
11. Take some nice food - the positive psychological value of good food is amazing
12. There is a decent supermarket at Whitemark on Flinders Island where you can fully stock up
13. 2 weeks should be plenty of time for a one way crossing - you don't need to wait for long service leave!!
14. Take a camera with a big memory card and a couple of batteries. Mine was atiny waterproof digital one (about $500) that I had around my neck, so could shoot at any time. You'll find the video function very useful for capturing the moment / keeping a video diary.
15. You can adequately prepare on flat water provided you've done some proper seakayaking before.
16. You don't need to be able to roll if you can get into your boat another way in deep water.
17. Tide currents are significant, and very strong around prominent projections of land or small islands. Waves get pretty steep and big when wind and tides oppose.
18. Don't go out on big openwater crossings if the forecast is dodgey, but you can give it a go if you're running along the coast or the islands are pretty close.
19. You don't have to be miles offshore to get into trouble. Take on Cape Frankland (NW tip of Flinders Is) in 25-30kts of wind against tide with a reasonable swell and you'll see what I mean - character building and no photos cause I wouldn't take my hands off the paddle for 3 hours!!
20. Start paddling now, twice a week, 20km and 30km, and you'll be more than ready to have a crack at Xmas (seriously, provided you're reasonably fit with good outdoors experience).

I've rabbled on a bit, but hopefully this will get a few fence-sitters into boats and out there in the Strait.

As for me, I've been thinking about SW Tassie and up across Western Bass Strait to Victoria for a while. About a 4 week trip, not sure when I'll be allowed to abandon the family or find time to do it. Anyone interested?

Thanks everyone, especially Dr Dan for clear very useful tips. I will be printing out this forum discussion when the 2 Rats get to NZ and sticking on my wall for inspiration. If they can get as far as they have, I can get to Tassie.

Hi Michael,
A bass strait crossing is definitely on my 'to do' list. Your time line of 3 years sounds good to me I am doing a lot of sailing over the next two years so any other adventures have been put on the backburner. I've done quite a bit of sea kayaking around Oz, especially around Tassie.
Anyway I will keep in touch via this website and see what pans out.
All the best
Peter H
Darwin

My email for those who want to touch base is mickbertram@hotmail.com