Hi Jez, your idea is a good one and can be done easily and safely.
we've been doing trips like these for a while. recently sailed from elwood to port arlington approx 50km with some tacks between 2 - 6.30 pm on a 10 - 15 knot SE.
we are off to explore the fiji islands next week, have a look at our blog.
windsurftouring.blogspot.com
you just need the right board and sail and a mobile phone, water and a few snacks.
given the shape of the bay you'll go from downwind, reaching and upwind sailing regardless so just give it some thought and plan your day and if it doesn't work the first time sail in and call for a pick up. no dramas.
contact us via our blog if you want to meet up for some cruising.
matt

Select to expand quote

matt tonner said...

Hi Jez, your idea is a good one and can be done easily and safely.
we've been doing trips like these for a while. recently sailed from elwood to port arlington approx 50km with some tacks between 2 - 6.30 pm on a 10 - 15 knot SE.
we are off to explore the fiji islands next week, have a look at our blog.
windsurftouring.blogspot.com
you just need the right board and sail and a mobile phone, water and a few snacks.
given the shape of the bay you'll go from downwind, reaching and upwind sailing regardless so just give it some thought and plan your day and if it doesn't work the first time sail in and call for a pick up. no dramas.
contact us via our blog if you want to meet up for some cruising.
matt

Finally some words of encouragement from someone that has done it!

I was thinking of strapping a rubber dinghy to my back foot strap on a 5m rope, I would keep supplies and spares in it. Whats the practicallity of towing a small dinghy with a windsurfer on a trip like this?

you don't need to tow a life raft when you're already standing on one. have a look at our gear on the blog and have a think about how you can stow a few items on the board if you need to. gavin le'seur sailed from melbourne to sydney on an old school longboard in the early 80's and had no problems. nick moloney also sailed from the prom to tassie unassisted, solo and non stop in less than a day and he even admits he wasn't a great windsurfer.

Select to expand quote

matt tonner said...

you don't need to tow a life raft when you're already standing on one. have a look at our gear on the blog and have a think about how you can stow a few items on the board if you need to. gavin le'seur sailed from melbourne to sydney on an old school longboard in the early 80's and had no problems. nick moloney also sailed from the prom to tassie unassisted, solo and non stop in less than a day and he even admits he wasn't a great windsurfer.

I have a pretty serious volume board at 170l that would be best on a trip like this. Although not mant places i would store stuff snacks etc... The small dingyh would be like my own minibar on the water;) I dont think that it would slow me down that much.

you'd be suprised the difference the slightest bit of drag makes to a board.
the boards we use are 295 & 373 litres but you would be best on a old school mistral longboard which can be picked up on ebay or seabreeze if you're lucky.
even when fully loaded up we can still sail quite comfortably on the plane for long periods so if you're towing something you'll have no chance, whatever you're towing will blow around behind you and stop you dead.

My neighbour has a big old Wayler (board only) that might suit you if you are interested.

Jez,im not trying to discourage you too much just keep you safe and not too dead.Towing stuff is hard work,try it with another board first and you,ll see why.Get some sailing practice in first,it may be a lot more work than you think.

Nick Moloney also said that the sail across tassie was the hardest sail he has ever done still and was lucky to survive after 22 hrs. Allison is still recovering from her attempt last year.

Select to expand quote

kato said...

Jez,im not trying to discourage you too much just keep you safe and not too dead.Towing stuff is hard work,try it with another board first and you,ll see why.Get some sailing practice in first,it may be a lot more work than you think.

Nick Moloney also said that the sail across tassie was the hardest sail he has ever done still and was lucky to survive after 22 hrs. Allison is still recovering from her attempt last year.

No issues Kato, I'm pretty hardcore so you would need more than jut a few words to put me off. I was the kid always testing the ramp Before anyone else had the balls.

That said, I have taken on comments and advice and reduced the scope to frankston I stead of rye. Rye will be next.

Select to expand quote

jermaldan said...

kato said...

Jez,im not trying to discourage you too much just keep you safe and not too dead.Towing stuff is hard work,try it with another board first and you,ll see why.Get some sailing practice in first,it may be a lot more work than you think.

Nick Moloney also said that the sail across tassie was the hardest sail he has ever done still and was lucky to survive after 22 hrs. Allison is still recovering from her attempt last year.

No issues Kato, I'm pretty hardcore so you would need more than jut a few words to put me off. I was the kid always testing the ramp Before anyone else had the balls.

That said, I have taken on comments and advice and reduced the scope to frankston I stead of rye. Rye will be next.

No prob,s come and join me in a session at the Pit. I usually sail 200 to 300km in a session.

Select to expand quote

No prob,s come and join me in a session at the Pit. I usually sail 200 to 300km in a session.

Are you serious ?
How long a session is that ?
I've not got a GPS and wondered how far I've covered.
Theres no sense of distance in moving water with a shoreline far off
(or behind you)

So how far do you think i might cover, say, planing on 100L for 1 hour back & forth in the bay?

On the subject of "journeying" I gave it up after following the bay's east coast northward several times in a westerly, getting tired on 1 tack, only to be becalmed several KM up the coast of my van, with waves travelling east to west that made it v.tricky to even stand & hold the sail when there's no wind. Each wave would broadside me and you cant see them coming to your windward side. It felt more tottoery than my first day sailing. v.frustrating. I've had a better experience crossing Elwood to Williamstown & back in N-NW. There was plenty of talk about bay crossing on this forum last winter/spring planned for this summer. Don't know if anyone got around to it. Would it not be tricky to stay together in a group?

Select to expand quote

steveBayside said...

No prob,s come and join me in a session at the Pit. I usually sail 200 to 300km in a session.

Are you serious ?
How long a session is that ?
I've not got a GPS and wondered how far I've covered.
Theres no sense of distance in moving water with a shoreline far off
(or behind you)

So how far do you think i might cover, say, planing on 100L for 1 hour back & forth in the bay?

You would be supprised how much distance you can do in a couple of hours if you dont stop to talk to much. Not that hard to get 70-100 klm in say 3 hours sailing.

I usualy where a gps, most Ive done in the bay is 91.5 on my wave board at Elwood, was ready to pack up when a couple of mates turned up so had to keep going. legs feel a bit wobly on the drive home.

Im sure there are guys who would do that and more often. But sailing 1 tack for distance would be a big effort and taxing on the body i would think.

That is amazing, 2 - 300 kms. How long is the run one way at Sandy point?

10km at best 1 at worst