Someone suggested I post some pics from a Xmas cruise to help convince people they should cruise in Tasmania.

Day walk from Recherche Bay to South Cape Riverlet.

Port Esperance towards Bruny

Adamsons

Early morning departing Port Esperance

approaching Gordon jetty

On the mooring in Cygnet

Tasmania is a must do on my bucket list, entered the 12 month countdown to casting the lines and doing some long term cruising.

If you can't make it all the way down to Hobart for the WBF, try and get to the Furneaux (Flinders Is) Group. Sensation cruising, anchorages and scenery.

Cheers, Graeme

Anyone looking to sail around Tassie should look to get a copy of the Tasmanian Anchorage Guide - ryct.org.au/tasmanian-anchorage-guide/

If you see a copy of John Brettingham Moore's "Cruising Tasmania" written in late 1970 and early 1980s grab it.

The RYCT Guide is written for the RYCT cruise and is very conservative in it's advice.
That is intentional on the part of the authors (who are good friends and super experienced)

The Brettingham Moore book has many of the fishing boat hide holes which while sometime more exposed are still good compared to being at sea.

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lydia said..
If you see a copy of John Brettingham Moore's "Cruising Tasmania" written in late 1970 and early 1980s grab it.

The RYCT Guide is written for the RYCT cruise and is very conservative in it's advice.
That is intentional on the part of the authors (who are good friends and super experienced)

The Brettingham Moore book has many of the fishing boat hide holes which while sometime more exposed are still good compared to being at sea.

Looks like John Brettingham-Moore's Cruising Tasmania is available spiral bound at Australian Boat Books www.boatbooks-aust.com.au/product/cruising-tasmania-2/

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Quixotic said..

lydia said..
If you see a copy of John Brettingham Moore's "Cruising Tasmania" written in late 1970 and early 1980s grab it.

The RYCT Guide is written for the RYCT cruise and is very conservative in it's advice.
That is intentional on the part of the authors (who are good friends and super experienced)

The Brettingham Moore book has many of the fishing boat hide holes which while sometime more exposed are still good compared to being at sea.

Looks like John Brettingham-Moore's Cruising Tasmania is available spiral bound at Australian Boat Books www.boatbooks-aust.com.au/product/cruising-tasmania-2/

Yep, get that one if you can.
Rough hand drawn maps but great addition to the RYCT guide.
also the CYCT guides have excellent detail as well.
I carry all on board.
By way of example years ago got lulled into false sense of security by the previous days forecast, made a poor decision entering Banks Strait from the west with wrong tide as well.
The Brettingham Moore guide identified a fishing boat anchorage behind the very northern end of Waterhouse Island.
Couple hours later about 4 big shark boats had joined us there. So the right spot then.
All waited until the gale blew out the next afternoon.
So all are different but you need as much good information as possible.
That spot is in later editions of the RYCT guide now I think.

Just checked the Navionics, it is now a marked anchorage with a user review.
Times change.

This a raises a very interesting issue.

In the circumstances, I would rate the anchorage 5 out of 5 because breeze had gone NW to W at over 40 knots gusting to 55 knots with wind against tide for the next 6 hours.
In fact in 15 years of owning that boat it was the only time we ever put all the storm boards in and buttoned right up.

There was little roll and a bit of tide but the holding was hard sand under kelp so excellent past the kelp in about 5m as we tucked in quite close.

In those circumstances we could not have found it better, yet one user has said 3 out of 5 which of course may put people off sheltering there.

Everyone sees things differently.

I will try to find some pics.

Acknowledgement to Mr Bellingham but you can see the anchorage in the bottom left of the photo. Photo is taken looking south east.

+1 for Brettingham-Moore. Also get the CYAV "Cruising Victoria" book, which inludes the Tassie north coast and all the Bass Strait islands. Take all 3 books. If you're old enough, take "Victoria's Waterways" as well for some nostalgia.

I once spent a very rolly night at Waterhouse Island in SW wind - uncomfortable but completely safe. Anywhere that helps keep me alive gets 5 stars.

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wongaga said..
+1 for Brettingham-Moore. Also get the CYAV "Cruising Victoria" book, which inludes the Tassie north coast and all the Bass Strait islands. Take all 3 books. If you're old enough, take "Victoria's Waterways" as well for some nostalgia.

I once spent a very rolly night at Waterhouse Island in SW wind - uncomfortable but completely safe. Anywhere that helps keep me alive gets 5 stars.

Yep, as Wongaga says in the last sentence.

Maybe we need a 5x5 rating as per radio checks - 5 for safety and 5 for comfort.

That is not to say cruising in TAS is not challenging.
Tide is flowing west through Bank straits at 2.93 knots at present.
So this is not an estuary but a 10 mile wide body of water going sideways at 3 knots.

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lydia said..
That is not to say cruising in TAS is not challenging.
Tide is flowing west through Bank straits at 2.93 knots at present.
So this is not an estuary but a 10 mile wide body of water going sideways at 3 knots.

Yes, you need your skills and it's not for beginners. I sailed around the northern tip of Flinders Island, through the gap south of Inner Sister Island and it was pretty wild, with overfalls, whirlpools and standing waves. Reminiscent of the PPB Rip. Would be quite dramatic with a bit more swell and wind over tide.

Huon Is race in an Etchell for the day (late Jan)

AWBF

If used to Marinas you will a hefty fender board come gangplank.

Perfect cruising !
For me anyway!

I would like to do some high latitude cruising, I think Tassie would be a good place to start.

Written by one of the AWBF's founders. I have a copy, but admit to not having read it yet.

theshank.com.au/

If you winter over it is stunning!


Being almost zero wind for a week now bit of drizzle though and not too cold

Cray and Ab boats still doing their trade.

as I said in another thread watch the movement of the AB boats and the Ab trailer boats as best indicator of the weather.

trying to get out for a few days next week and by the weather will have turned but anyway!