Great Australian Bight

[Takitezy]

Hi all, after some info on sailing west to east across the Bight, Perth to Adelaide.
Particularly the best time to do it. I was thinking late winter after the worst of the fronts have passed but with still a SW wind flow??

Thanks in advance for any help
Paul

[HankOnthewater]

In theory, any time of the year. However in summer months there is often a high in the Bight, that will give you easterlies (headwinds). You have to go along way south then to catch the westerlies.
In winter, you could leave Albany or Esperance after a big front has passed, but count on it to get at least on other front to Adelaide or 2 or 3 going to the east coast.
Therefore spring or late summer remain. But still there will be some fronts, but winds not as severe as in winter (june to mid september)

[boatman61]

I did the trip from Perth to Tassie in Nov/Dec.
Left Perth as an E'ly was tailing off and hove to of the Cape till wind filled in from the W then pulled into Albany due to TP problems.
From there I sailed E then hopped into Pt Fairy for 3 days as a 50kt breeze went past.. continued on down the coast to the Strait and crossed in flat calm waters with seals and porpoise/dolphins all around. very reasonable conditions really considering the horrer stories I had heard.
Boat was a 30ft ply Van de Stadt.

[Takitezy]

Thanks guys. With my schedule it looks like October for me. Easterlies don’t sound so good for me in a cat.
Cheers

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by Takitezy

Hi all, after some info on sailing west to east across the Bight, Perth to Adelaide.

Particularly the best time to do it. I was thinking late winter after the worst of the fronts have passed but with still a SW wind flow??



Thanks in advance for any help

Paul

You’re planning the opposite of our plan, which will see us crossing the bight late March E to W. Maybe we’ll see you in Perth before we head north in April.

Have you checked out the Jack and Jude books and guides? They’ve done that trip several times.

[chrisr]

i've been across the bight numerous times...had 50kts all the way, and also in flat calm

really doesn't especially matter what time of year you do it...just be patient and time your run

if you want to do it in a couple of hops, esperance to thevenard shortens the distance quite a it. then port lincoln, then you are in the gulfs and it's easy

actually getting fm perth to esperance (ie around cape leuwin) is the worst part of the trip

like i said, be patient and wait for the window

enjoy

cheers,