Crossing the Bass Strait in a Mirror Class Dinghy

[holy ship]

Hey guys... My friend and me are hellbent on becoming the youngest people to cross the bass strait to Tasmania in a dinghy... Do you have any info about that cause could find nothing on the web. Also could you give your advice on how to go about doing it.. we have a vague idea but we need some help makeing sure.

Thanks

[Sabbatical II]

Originally Posted by holy ship

Also could you give your advice on how to go about doing it..

Don't tell Mum and Dad!

[holy ship]

Hhaha they don't mind...

[Ozbullwinkle]

What happened to your plans to cruise the Gippsland Lakes that your parents were ok about?

Crossing Bass Strait in a dinghy is not a good idea at all - yeah maybe you could do it in perfect conditions but your vessel is not designed for such a stretch of water.

[Ozbullwinkle]

Further to my earlier post above - the photo below is a Mirror class dinghy.

If this is what you have in mind for such a trip forget it - Bass Strait is no place for such a dinghy.

Even if you got perfect conditions you could not load this dinghy with anywhere near the amount of equipment and provisions that you would need - unless a support vessel is going to shadow you but even then it is not a good idea.

[roverhi]

Be sure and leave your last will and testament with someone on shore.

[BlueSun]

Dude, I really admire your adventurous spirit - but we just crossed Bass Straight last month in a 38ft steel yacht that was built for the job and believe me, it was no picnic! BIG swell (up to 4 metres), strong currents, strong winds - and we had pretty good weather!

Dont lose your passion for adventure - just make sure you do your research, have the right boat and the right skills, knowledge and support.

There is heaps of awesome exciting sailing you can do in Victoria - have fun with it! And look for opportunities to crew on bigger boats - much more fun than being tossed around in the middle of a raging ocean in a dingy.

Good luck matey.

[surfingminniwinni]

It can be done, but don't do it.

Rod Waterhouse crossed on a Hobie Cat in 2008

http://anhca.hobieclass.com/?page=7769&format=

[holy ship]

What sort of boat would you suggest??

[holy ship]

Originally Posted by Ozbullwinkle

What happened to your plans to cruise the Gippsland Lakes that your parents were ok about?

Crossing Bass Strait in a dinghy is not a good idea at all - yeah maybe you could do it in perfect conditions but your vessel is not designed for such a stretch of water.

Nothing we are still going

[holy ship]

And look for opportunities to crew on bigger boats

Good luck matey.

I am 14 and my friend is the same age... What sort of position do u think we should look for

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by holy ship

What sort of boat would you suggest??

Spirit of Tasmania

I had a mirror dinghy when I was your age. I sailed it on lake eildon and it spent enough time the wrong way around and I really can't imagine it crossing bass strait.

[holy ship]

Same here... I've spent so much time the wrong way around that I'm beginning to think that it was ment to be that way

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by holy ship

Hey guys... My friend and me are hellbent on becoming the youngest people to cross the bass strait to Tasmania in a dinghy... Do you have any info about that cause could find nothing on the web. Also could you give your advice on how to go about doing it.. we have a vague idea but we need some help makeing sure.

Thanks

Please don't take this the wrong way - but especially given the contents of your post - you would be a complete f#ggin idiot to even attempt this .

FWIW I am more concerned about a nice dinghy being lost than the crew.

Not to say that I have anything against young people doing dumb stuff - hell, when you are still immortal and made of rubber is the best time to do dumb stuff . But I would stick with something like climbing Everest using a pogo stick .

[ausaviator]

D_O_J is being somewhat overly cautious.... if you had a support boat you'd be laughing.

You could definitely do it in a small yacht / dinghy, no major issues there, but I would say it would need to be something that won't fill with water to make it easier.

Laser II, B14, any form of Catamaran, Tasar maybe. Catamaran would be the best option; something fast - has been done as per above link from Sydney to Tasmania.

It's a damn long way but not impossible!

It wouldn't have to be non-stop and there are definitely places to stop on the way for rest and shelter.

I would have attempted that trip in my youth but never really thought much about it. I had the yacht that was capable of it, the B14.

I was down off Wilsons prom over Christmas, brilliant weather, it certainly can be pucture perfect for sailing, but can get rough. That's why we have weather forecasts.