Great stuff. I asked a mate if he'd bring his surf ski but he just sold it. We'll see what else we can rustle up. I'm keen to plan well, and go when we're ready, rather than race off tomorrow. Theres a great thread in the SUP forums on a Port Phillip Bay crossing that went wrong (link below), worth reading. A few on other forums, but everyone seems to recommend the same things on the whole (apart from those that think we should all stay home in bed), so I'm thinking it'll probably look like this:
1. Stay together
2. Have comms, at very least multiple mobile phones
3. Stay together
4. Let someone not participating be aware of when you leave and are expected to return
5. Let local authorities know (Naval Base, Cockburn Volunteer Rescue)
6. Stay together
7. Consider a boat/surf ski to accompany
8. Consider EPIRB/PLB
9. Stay together
10. Consider the conditions, if in doubt, don't go out.
While this distance is not an "epic downwinder", its about the right scale I'd be comfortable with. That includes the need to self rescue/swim to nearest land.
Busterwa, you need to chill mate. If reading this thread makes you upset, read something else. Better still, come along, help make it safe, and make it fun.
Link to SUP adventure gone wrong:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/SUP-history-will-be-made-tomorrow/?page=1PS
xkcd.com/386/