Some great responses. Thanks for your comments.
From reading your comments and some more research I think I would turn right coming out of Sydney Harbour and go south first and clockwise around. South for summer (not too cold down south Jan-April) and north for winter (ditto).
These two links have been helpful for research on wind, temperature etc
www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/wind/selection_map.shtml
www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/
It seems, if sticking to the coast that there is a pattern of wind off the land in the morning and wind from the sea in the afternoon. That is a simple observation but going through the wind direction averages (speed) and directions seem to confirm this as a rule of thumb (but not always so...)
The circumference of the Australian coastline is listed as 26,000 Klms in places and 36,000 Klms in others. Let's call it 30,000 Klms for the sake of it. Taking a year to do the trip would mean 30,000/365 for a daily distance average of approximately 82 Klms. Now some days you'd make less and some days more. I would just sail during the day and hop from location to location.
I guess you could plot out the estimated locations to throw the anchor in at the end of each day but we know it always never pans out the way you plan it.
So one of my big concerns would be not being able to find a safe harbour/inlet/headland for the night and being exposed to the elements all night (in case it turns bad). If I had to anchor off an open beach I can't see a problem with that as long as I'm out far enough, take tides, wind and forecast into consideration. There is bound to be times I'd have to anchor directly off the coast with little to no protection. Plenty of long big cliffs going across the SA bight too. If I have to anchor off a beach what are your best tips when doing it?
Any other comments appreciated.
Thanks
There is bound to be times I'd have to anchor directly off the coast with little to no protection. Plenty of long big cliffs going across the SA bight too. If I have to anchor off a beach what are your best tips when doing it?
Any other comments appreciated.
Reddog. Sailing during the day and anchoring under cliffs (Western Victoria. South Australia, Western Australia.) is not even remotely feasible.
Gary
Select to expand quotegarymalmgren said..
There is bound to be times I'd have to anchor directly off the coast with little to no protection. Plenty of long big cliffs going across the SA bight too. If I have to anchor off a beach what are your best tips when doing it?
Any other comments appreciated.
Reddog. Sailing during the day and anchoring under cliffs (Western Victoria. South Australia, Western Australia.) is not even remotely feasible.
Gary
Best to head back out to sea. Cliffs and land don't mix well with boats.
Reddog, suggest you get hold of some Australian cruising guides available to get an understanding of where you can and cannot anchor. I've just got hold of some old copies of Alan Lucas's "Cruising the Coral Coast" and "Cruising the NSW Coast" and they have answered my queries regarding cruising along the East coast. The WA Cruising Guide is available free from the link below.
www.fsc.com.au/wa-cruising-guide-5th-edition/
Ilenart
Hi Reddog,
I don't know the south coast at all, and no seasoned expert, but generally there are always stretches on a coastline where you cannot anchor up, so that means you need to push through. I've noticed after a couple of days I'm permanently tired, enough to make me write things down before I attempt certain things so my brain doesn't wander down some rabbit hole and do the opposite of what I am intending.
Sleep deprivation is a killer, so step one is making sure your boat can sail on safely whilst you catnap ,and the other is training yourself to function with lots of small sleeps.
The standard adage for sleeping is 20 mins. that's about the time it takes for something over the horizon to get close enough to you to run you over. You want the boat to be far enough away from a land mass that a wind change can't put you on the rocks, and if possible away from any shipping routes or trawlers.
The good thing is you can practice at this. I was concerned enough about doing this to get some professional advice which was awesome. He had me stooge offshore and tape up the windows so you couldn't see out then (eek) turn off all the electronics aids in the cabin, then go below and stay below for 5 mins at a time, then push it out to 10 mins, then finally 20 mins.
The idea is you have to train your brain to properly rest in those 20 min windows without sensory inputs ie: pretending you are asleep. I found at first that even 5 minutes was really hard, its not natural to have no idea of what is happening outside. It was good advice though, you do get used to it, but I'd be lying if I said I felt super alert and chipper after a couple of days even with lots of little sleeps.
And from lessons learnt, have a very loud alarm you can set for 20 mins and use it religiously, even if you are simply 'resting'. I lay down once to 'rest' in confined waters and didn't set the alarm, and ended up putting the boat ashore. We just had some American gent up the Sunshine Coast appear off the beach, and whilst he was pulling down his sails he fell overboard and drowned, close enough to the beach for people in some unit block to watch the whole thing. I shouldn't surmise, but that's the sort of thing a lack of sleep will do to you.
I realised a lot later the sleep deprivation stuff came from Andrew Evans book. Andrew is a Canadian sailor, he did a great book called Singlehanded Sailing,, Thoughts, Tips, Techniques and Tactics, worth every cent of the $19 price tag.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071836535?pf_rd_p=2d1ab404-3b11-4c97-b3db-48081e145e35&pf_rd_r=ZRGV2RYD9FXBSPBFC32T
All the best to you, sounds like a great adventure!
SB
I haven't seen much of the GBR but of what I have seen, even there you can't just pull over and drop anchor anywhere, well....sure you "could" but it would be so uncomfortable. and dangerous as in dragging onto shore.
You'll have to do the 20 minute nap thing, for me it works very well, but I still get tired during the night, to the point once where I slept with the alarm ringing in my ear for over 25 minutes until I woke up!
Wow, call it 40nm per day, that's a big day for a daylight sail under normal circumstances.
What an awesome trip, wish I could do it, one day....hopefully.
Select to expand quoteIlenart said..
Reddog, suggest you get hold of some Australian cruising guides available to get an understanding of where you can and cannot anchor. I've just got hold of some old copies of Alan Lucas's "Cruising the Coral Coast" and "Cruising the NSW Coast" and they have answered my queries regarding cruising along the East coast. The WA Cruising Guide is available free from the link below.
www.fsc.com.au/wa-cruising-guide-5th-edition/
Ilenart
Thanks mate, have downloaded it and will read.
Go well
Select to expand quoteshaggybaxter said..
Hi Reddog,
I don't know the south coast at all, and no seasoned expert, but generally there are always stretches on a coastline where you cannot anchor up, so that means you need to push through. I've noticed after a couple of days I'm permanently tired, enough to make me write things down before I attempt certain things so my brain doesn't wander down some rabbit hole and do the opposite of what I am intending.
Sleep deprivation is a killer, so step one is making sure your boat can sail on safely whilst you catnap ,and the other is training yourself to function with lots of small sleeps.
The standard adage for sleeping is 20 mins. that's about the time it takes for something over the horizon to get close enough to you to run you over. You want the boat to be far enough away from a land mass that a wind change can't put you on the rocks, and if possible away from any shipping routes or trawlers.
The good thing is you can practice at this. I was concerned enough about doing this to get some professional advice which was awesome. He had me stooge offshore and tape up the windows so you couldn't see out then (eek) turn off all the electronics aids in the cabin, then go below and stay below for 5 mins at a time, then push it out to 10 mins, then finally 20 mins.
The idea is you have to train your brain to properly rest in those 20 min windows without sensory inputs ie: pretending you are asleep. I found at first that even 5 minutes was really hard, its not natural to have no idea of what is happening outside. It was good advice though, you do get used to it, but I'd be lying if I said I felt super alert and chipper after a couple of days even with lots of little sleeps.
And from lessons learnt, have a very loud alarm you can set for 20 mins and use it religiously, even if you are simply 'resting'. I lay down once to 'rest' in confined waters and didn't set the alarm, and ended up putting the boat ashore. We just had some American gent up the Sunshine Coast appear off the beach, and whilst he was pulling down his sails he fell overboard and drowned, close enough to the beach for people in some unit block to watch the whole thing. I shouldn't surmise, but that's the sort of thing a lack of sleep will do to you.
I realised a lot later the sleep deprivation stuff came from Andrew Evans book. Andrew is a Canadian sailor, he did a great book called Singlehanded Sailing,, Thoughts, Tips, Techniques and Tactics, worth every cent of the $19 price tag.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071836535?pf_rd_p=2d1ab404-3b11-4c97-b3db-48081e145e35&pf_rd_r=ZRGV2RYD9FXBSPBFC32T
All the best to you, sounds like a great adventure!
SB
Great tips Shaggy and thanks.
Have purchased the book and will read.
Go well
Select to expand quoteBlueMoon said..
I haven't seen much of the GBR but of what I have seen, even there you can't just pull over and drop anchor anywhere, well....sure you "could" but it would be so uncomfortable. and dangerous as in dragging onto shore.
You'll have to do the 20 minute nap thing, for me it works very well, but I still get tired during the night, to the point once where I slept with the alarm ringing in my ear for over 25 minutes until I woke up!
Wow, call it 40nm per day, that's a big day for a daylight sail under normal circumstances.
What an awesome trip, wish I could do it, one day....hopefully.
Thanks Bluemoon, pipe dream at this point but planning to do it someday, with research.
Noted on the naps.
Cheers
Select to expand quotesimmrr said..
Watch around Esperance late summer for a cyclone that drifts into the south of WA and hooks up with a cold front. You will regret being on the ocean. Cold air and big swells will be drawn up from the south. Doesnt always happen however had a few of these over the years tear up the foreshore coastline. Be prepared well for around there. Most days were good craying with mild weather however I would be watching the forecasts closely in a 30ft boat. Lots of good bays and Islands to hide behind once past Israelite Bay. Thistle cove is a natural harbour, deep and very protected.
Very late this year however the exact scenario I was describing. would have been nasty to have been anywhere on the West coast last night and even today. 132km/hr winds. 8m Swells
www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-25/massive-storm-hits-perth-as-ex-tropical-cyclone-mangga-strikes/12281886
Credit to BOM, they have been calling this one since last Thursday, so anyone out cruising would of had at least 72 hours to find a hole and bunker down. Reinforces the need to to weather forecasts available 24 / 7. For me that means Iridium Go for around Oz.
Ilenart
Select to expand quoteIlenart said..
Reddog, suggest you get hold of some Australian cruising guides available to get an understanding of where you can and cannot anchor. I've just got hold of some old copies of Alan Lucas's "Cruising the Coral Coast" and "Cruising the NSW Coast" and they have answered my queries regarding cruising along the East coast. The WA Cruising Guide is available free from the link below.
www.fsc.com.au/wa-cruising-guide-5th-edition/
Ilenart
Just remember that Lucas books are for passage making so for detailed anchorages you need to go to detailed guides such as Curtis Coast or the newest and most detailed one covering all of Australia and the world....Zulu Waterways [Aussie made] which can be found online and as an app.
Select to expand quotenswsailor said..Ilenart said..
Reddog, suggest you get hold of some Australian cruising guides available to get an understanding of where you can and cannot anchor. I've just got hold of some old copies of Alan Lucas's "Cruising the Coral Coast" and "Cruising the NSW Coast" and they have answered my queries regarding cruising along the East coast. The WA Cruising Guide is available free from the link below.
www.fsc.com.au/wa-cruising-guide-5th-edition/
Ilenart
Just remember that Lucas books are for passage making so for detailed anchorages you need to go to detailed guides such as Curtis Coast or the newest and most detailed one covering all of Australia and the world....Zulu Waterways [Aussie made] which can be found online and as an app.
Thanks for that, Zulu Waterways looks useful.
Ilenart
Good on you Mate for having a go. Its been done before and I'm positive if you spend the time preparing your boat and planning you will have a fantastic and successful voyage.
These are the best tips I can give you.
1. Use a professional weather guy. They can give long term and medium term forecasts which could aren't readily publicly available. I used Bruce Buckely he was great. It might mean staying in port for an extra week and missing some nasty weather due in 2 or 3 weeks.
2. Having said that don't be afraid of the odd gale your boat should be set up to handle gale force winds.
You shouldn't really have to deal with anything over 50 knots, but its not hard to find yourself in an unexpected 40+ knot gale.
3. Get plenty of sleep I slept at least 12 to 14 hours a day waking up every hour for a check. Shaggy has some good advice there.
4. Get used to your AIS and set your perimeter alarms I had 2 AIS units.
6. My preference is to be at least 100miles offshore most of the time but rarely closer than 4 hours to land or reefs. You just get more sleep and less traffic 100 miles offshore.
7. Make sure you've done everything possible to ensure that your mast won't fall down and your keel won't fall off.
8. Have good quality base mid and outer layer clothes inc seaboots
9. Have your safety harness stored in the companionway, never go on deck unless your clipped on.
Of course there are two ways to do this:-
Quickly, off shore and see NOTHING of Australia.
Day by day as coastal hops and see ALL of Australia.
Select to expand quotenswsailor said..
Of course there are two ways to do this:-
Quickly, off shore and see NOTHING of Australia.
Day by day as coastal hops and see ALL of Australia.
true
Select to expand quotenswsailor said..
Of course there are two ways to do this:-
Quickly, off shore and see NOTHING of Australia.
Day by day as coastal hops and see ALL of Australia.
true
Select to expand quotenswsailor said..Ilenart said..
Reddog, suggest you get hold of some Australian cruising guides available to get an understanding of where you can and cannot anchor. I've just got hold of some old copies of Alan Lucas's "Cruising the Coral Coast" and "Cruising the NSW Coast" and they have answered my queries regarding cruising along the East coast. The WA Cruising Guide is available free from the link below.
www.fsc.com.au/wa-cruising-guide-5th-edition/
Ilenart
Just remember that Lucas books are for passage making so for detailed anchorages you need to go to detailed guides such as Curtis Coast or the newest and most detailed one covering all of Australia and the world....Zulu Waterways [Aussie made] which can be found online and as an app.
Thanks mate, that looks like a really handy app for anchoring locations. Is it free? I just downloaded it and it looks to be free. Cheers
Select to expand quoteandy59 said..
Good on you Mate for having a go. Its been done before and I'm positive if you spend the time preparing your boat and planning you will have a fantastic and successful voyage.
These are the best tips I can give you.
1. Use a professional weather guy. They can give long term and medium term forecasts which could aren't readily publicly available. I used Bruce Buckely he was great. It might mean staying in port for an extra week and missing some nasty weather due in 2 or 3 weeks.
2. Having said that don't be afraid of the odd gale your boat should be set up to handle gale force winds.
You shouldn't really have to deal with anything over 50 knots, but its not hard to find yourself in an unexpected 40+ knot gale.
3. Get plenty of sleep I slept at least 12 to 14 hours a day waking up every hour for a check. Shaggy has some good advice there.
4. Get used to your AIS and set your perimeter alarms I had 2 AIS units.
6. My preference is to be at least 100miles offshore most of the time but rarely closer than 4 hours to land or reefs. You just get more sleep and less traffic 100 miles offshore.
7. Make sure you've done everything possible to ensure that your mast won't fall down and your keel won't fall off.
8. Have good quality base mid and outer layer clothes inc seaboots
9. Have your safety harness stored in the companionway, never go on deck unless your clipped on.
Thanks, really good tips and appreciated. Have a great weekend.
Select to expand quotenswsailor said..
Of course there are two ways to do this:-
Quickly, off shore and see NOTHING of Australia.
Day by day as coastal hops and see ALL of Australia.
I'm planning to hop but in some stretches may have to move offshore more and make a run of it. Cheers
