Hello everyone,
I see no reason why not to circumnavigate Australia in a laser except for the inevitable bight crossing.
i guess the main issues are:
- high winds (you can always flip the boat back over)
- big swell
- you can't just anchor up off the coast like some yacht, you are going to need to beach the boat each night to set up a tent.
I thought the beaching issue would render my plan insanity due to the fact that the bight as a bunch of big cliffs and not many beaches, but a bit of google maps has inspired me.
it turns out that there are a couple of beaches, far apart from each other, but not so far that it is impossible.
If we take the average speed of a laser at 10 knots, the longer 200+km stretches between beaches will be 14-16 hours, but at a stretch, this is not impossible, just merely stupid. I read somewhere on some cruising yacht site that summer is better because the winds die down a bit.
please see attached screenshots and I would love some feedback on my plan.
after you get near yalata there are tons of beaches I think maybe i should research a bit more lol.
Anyways, this is making me a bit hopeful.
Maybe you could research some more. It will take more than one summer. It has been done by kayak, and the same issues were encountered in the Bight. (The guy kayaked for 30 hours nonstop.)
Look for the book in your library. Food and water supplies, navigation, weather, back up, communications, health and having a very small boat are the main issues I can think of right now. People die in small yachts every year, and you won't be the last one.
i will look for that book, and yes more research definitely needed but it does seem possible, although dangerous, I guess it is about just narrowing down every thing that could kill you and working out something to decrease the risk
You have speed over the kayak but you can't carry stores , a beach cat has done it as well
Dreamtine Voyage by Caffin.
Took 300 days
Most amazing thing was he did not tell anyone he did it for over 6 months for fear no one would believe him
Second cousin of the Wrights as in Norman Wrights
issue with my windrush beach cat is that it won't turn back over once you get it on its side, the mast just sinks down into turtle and I'm not heavy enough to get it back over. My laser has a few hatches that let me put things in the hull, aswell as I can strap things to the mast and hiking strap, then provision when I am near towns.
I'll be reading both of those books, thank you for the advice.
i would much rather take the windrush, but I think the capsizing issue is something I would have to work out first. One forum suggested filling the mast up with ping pong balls, maybe also using a big water jug as a mast float, but I will have to take it out to a spot in the harbour where I can flip it over multiple times to practice,I think the laser is seeming easier at the moment
Select to expand quoteyachtsearch said..
If we take the average speed of a laser at 10 knots...
I'd be looking for more frequent boltholes. I owned a laser for years, just because they're quick and light does not equate to a 10 knot average working a coastline. Dunno how light they'd be loaded up for passage making.
Use VMG not boat speed, a 10 knot average at 45 TWA is more like 7 knots. Your 200km span then equates to 30 hours, not 14-16 and I'd be pretty rooted after maintaining 10knots on a laser for 30 hours.
And that's if you maintain a 10knot average, which never happens for sustained periods unless the gods are really smiling on you.
Ring Tidetech and have a chat to them to see if they've mapped most of your route, if they cover the area of interest buy a subscription. The first thing I'd be looking for is tide and current influences as you will be restricted in a Laser on how far offshore you can go to get in and out of favourable conditions.
I've spent hours trying to get round bloody headlands with the end result often being backwards, that's when a motor is your best friend, not really an option on a Laser.
And no, you don't park off a beach in a keelboat either. It's either push through or heave to, nether of which is comfortable anywhere near shore. Hence you dig out to sea to give yourself room, another avenue not really practical for you.
Chat to lots of locals and keep doing your research.
All the best,
SB
thanks SB, that is a really good point. it didn't occur to me also that it's not going to be possible to hike out the whole time, that would take more endurance than I think I would be able to manage so the speed is going to be an issue with that and the angle of the wind.
you are right , I wouldn't want to be going very far offshore, in case I have to make the swim back in if it comes to that.
thank you for the valuable thoughts
And don't underestimate the the sea conditions off the Zuydorf Cliff between Steep Point and Kalbarri either. Only 100nm, but potentially just as nasty if not more so then the bight with NO bolt holes....
Also give consideration to provisions. We moved daily from Gove to Darwin and (I'll need to take a look at my logbook) that took us two weeks day sailing and the Kimberley's took us three weeks from Darwin to Cape Leveque. Not all the communities will let you land on their territory, and you wouldn't want to beach camp anyway. Are you planing on a support vessel or road vehicle at all?
Toph, those spots do look quite nasty, and I was planning on beach camping, I was thinking about crocodiles being an issue in certain places but I hadn't gotten around to working out that detail yet, I honestly hadn't considered support the whole way, I think it would be hard to find somebody willing.
currently just trying to scope out the viability of the whole idea, these are all very legitimate issues that will have to be adressed
Can't figure out why anyone would want to do this - obviously your shore crew is the key...............
Sublime effort right there by Caffin. Must have had a lot of shotgun lead to ward off the crocs over the top?
Norman R Wright and Sons since 1909.................legendary boat builders and designers..............
www.wrightsons.com.au/
Was trying to find the footage of the lady and 2 blokes who were sail boarding around Tasmania - someone will - she ended up in a hospital and was ok but not sure if the 2 blokes made it much further - someone will know please advise.
Anyway found this...............around Tasmania
sailsurfroam.com/blog-larissa/2016/1/29/q1wwtd0n6dpit2vfyhc8iurol1ez7q
Select to expand quoteyachtsearch said..
i will look for that book, and yes more research definitely needed but it does seem possible, although dangerous, I guess it is about just narrowing down every thing that could kill you and working out something to decrease the risk
Its called, "Keep Australia on your Left"
Select to expand quotenswsailor said..yachtsearch said..
i will look for that book, and yes more research definitely needed but it does seem possible, although dangerous, I guess it is about just narrowing down every thing that could kill you and working out something to decrease the risk
Its called, "Keep Australia on your Left"
That was written by an American guy who only got as far as Cape York from memory
Select to expand quoter13 said..
Can't figure out why anyone would want to do this - obviously your shore crew is the key...............
Sublime effort right there by Caffin. Must have had a lot of shotgun lead to ward off the crocs over the top?
Norman R Wright and Sons since 1909.................legendary boat builders and designers..............
www.wrightsons.com.au/
Was trying to find the footage of the lady and 2 blokes who were sail boarding around Tasmania - someone will - she ended up in a hospital and was ok but not sure if the 2 blokes made it much further - someone will know please advise.
Anyway found this...............around Tasmania
sailsurfroam.com/blog-larissa/2016/1/29/q1wwtd0n6dpit2vfyhc8iurol1ez7q
Caffin only had shore crew so to speak being a young lady in an old panel van which could Not follow him much of the way.
Check out the part of him waiting on the sand bank in the North west waiting for a cyclone to blow through and the sea rising to overtake the bank
Cripes this must be the record for the net frequency (ie number per time) of responses to a post since it was posted - Laurie please advise.
Lydia please advise the link to Caffin's effort. The young lady should have got a Holden panel van not a Ford...............sorry that's a joke, no need to respond.............
Select to expand quoter13 said..
Cripes this must be the record for the net frequency (ie number per time) of responses to a post since it was posted - Laurie please advise.
i thought the title might draw some attention haha, and as far as why you would want to do it? I'm not sure I guess life seems short (I can imagine the jokes about this making it shorter...)
i saw a video on YouTube about a guy who sailed his 18ft clinker dinghy from the UK to Aus
It definetly would not be comfortable.
I dont think it would be possible without a support boat or 4x4. You just dont have the room.
I used to go for camping trips to peel island from raby bay on our laser when i was a teen. A voyage of 6-7 nautical miles. I would tie all my gear against the mast becuase it wouldnt stay anywhere else. Everything that wasnt in a dry bag was soaked by the time you got to the beach.
It would be easier (but still incredibly difficult) to do it in something like a hobie or caper cat. The latter of which have storage in the hulls. A cat will also take the weight better.
If you are serious keep researching. It has the potential to be a trip to remember for the rest of your life.
Regards,
flatty, your point about peel island reminds me, is there anywhere around Sydney that would be a good warm up? perhaps Sydney Harbour to Hawkesbury, or are there any close islands? I'm going to have to do some practice journeys
furthermore maybe it would be better to do it in legs, tackle one state at a time, but perhaps this takes away from the whole point of circumnavigation and if I do it I should just.commit fully to it
Keep Australia to the left was funny as hell , dead serious American and a larrikin Ozzie , got as far as Darwin.
then there was A German girl tough as nails she did it in a kayak and went on to circumnavigate America .
then a Australian guy did it on a kayak but unlike the German girl he did sail his kayak she paddled but still a fantastic effort.and then of course the cat trip around.
if you want a shake down sail up from Sydney along Stockton beach camp there then sail to Broughton island just off Port Stephens , by then you should be ready to get in the car and head home.
10 knots avg, in your dreams!
No buoyancy to carry provisions etc. again kiss your avg speed even further goodbye if you're carrying extra weight.
Windrush mast floats already. Yours mustn't be sealed? Test it on its own. It should float. Whoever told you to fill it with ping pong balls doesn't know much about Windrush. Righting a Windrush should be easy if your weight is +75kg
I will brag here - I was a Laser NSW state champ, youth national champ and 20th in the open worlds in the Laser. You will die. I would not do it and I can gybe a Laser in 25-30 knots. I can square run a Laser in big winds - for a while. You cannot, almost no-one who doesn't train lots can. As for ten knots - again totally incorrect. A ten knot average means you are hitting 15 often and that is incredibly rare on a Laser. Here is a video of Mara Stransky sailing offshore. Mara is our women's Olympic rep. Her parents followed her in the family livaboard catamaran. She has sailed since she was born and is one of the best sailors I have ever seen. She capsizes and she is better then any of us. She gets absolutely exhausted by the trip.
Select to expand quoteKankama said..
I will brag here - I was a Laser NSW state champ, youth national champ and 20th in the open worlds in the Laser. You will die. I would not do it and I can gybe a Laser in 25-30 knots. I can square run a Laser in big winds - for a while. You cannot, almost no-one who doesn't train lots can. As for ten knots - again totally incorrect. A ten knot average means you are hitting 15 often and that is incredibly rare on a Laser. Here is a video of Mara Stransky sailing offshore. Mara is our women's Olympic rep. Her parents followed her in the family livaboard catamaran. She has sailed since she was born and is one of the best sailors I have ever seen. She capsizes and she is better then any of us. She gets absolutely exhausted by the trip.
Or this is Michael Blackburn - Laser Worlds champ - crossing Bass strait. He took a decade to learn to sail a laser really well.
Back to how to do it. I am a sea kayaker too. Paul Caffin, Freya Hoffmeister and Stuart Truman have all circumnavigated. I would not do it in a kayak. The best boat for me would be a small version of a Malibu outrigger - stable, fast and easy to right after capsize. Gary Dierking has a beautiful design called the Ulua which would be fab for a trip up the coast. Safe, fast under paddle and sail, light enough to move up the beach on your own. I would take a ply version of this boat.
Read Trumans book. Then go to a sea kayak convention and talk to people who do this type of stuff. Sail the east coast in the autumn in an Ulua. That would be fun.
Don't take a Laser.
Great post
Plan on an average speed of 4 knots. Select a boat that was not designed on a napkin for lake sailing!
Select to expand quoteZzzzzz said..
and then of course the cat trip around.
Which cat trip was that?
Select to expand quoteKankama said..
I will brag here - I was a Laser NSW state champ, youth national champ and 20th in the open worlds in the Laser. You will die. I would not do it and I can gybe a Laser in 25-30 knots. I can square run a Laser in big winds - for a while. You cannot, almost no-one who doesn't train lots can. As for ten knots - again totally incorrect. A ten knot average means you are hitting 15 often and that is incredibly rare on a Laser. Here is a video of Mara Stransky sailing offshore. Mara is our women's Olympic rep. Her parents followed her in the family livaboard catamaran. She has sailed since she was born and is one of the best sailors I have ever seen. She capsizes and she is better then any of us. She gets absolutely exhausted by the trip.
Or this is Michael Blackburn - Laser Worlds champ - crossing Bass strait. He took a decade to learn to sail a laser really well.
Back to how to do it. I am a sea kayaker too. Paul Caffin, Freya Hoffmeister and Stuart Truman have all circumnavigated. I would not do it in a kayak. The best boat for me would be a small version of a Malibu outrigger - stable, fast and easy to right after capsize. Gary Dierking has a beautiful design called the Ulua which would be fab for a trip up the coast. Safe, fast under paddle and sail, light enough to move up the beach on your own. I would take a ply version of this boat.
Read Trumans book. Then go to a sea kayak convention and talk to people who do this type of stuff. Sail the east coast in the autumn in an Ulua. That would be fun.
Don't take a Laser.
K , I suspect we sailed against each other at times as would occasionally hop in a Laser for big regattas like the East Coasts.
We used to get our girlfriends to drive us and our Lasers about 50 miles up the coast drop us off and we would sail back home in big sea breezes
Over 25 you lose it every few miles.
Great fun but.
Select to expand quoteslammin said..
10 knots avg, in your dreams!
No buoyancy to carry provisions etc. again kiss your avg speed even further goodbye if you're carrying extra weight.
Windrush mast floats already. Yours mustn't be sealed? Test it on its own. It should float. Whoever told you to fill it with ping pong balls doesn't know much about Windrush. Righting a Windrush should be easy if your weight is +75kg
my mast is not sealed properly I tried to fix it with silicone but it didn't work, and my weight is below 75 anyways
Select to expand quoteKankama said..
I will brag here - I was a Laser NSW state champ, youth national champ and 20th in the open worlds in the Laser. You will die. I would not do it and I can gybe a Laser in 25-30 knots. I can square run a Laser in big winds - for a while. You cannot, almost no-one who doesn't train lots can. As for ten knots - again totally incorrect. A ten knot average means you are hitting 15 often and that is incredibly rare on a Laser. Here is a video of Mara Stransky sailing offshore. Mara is our women's Olympic rep. Her parents followed her in the family livaboard catamaran. She has sailed since she was born and is one of the best sailors I have ever seen. She capsizes and she is better then any of us. She gets absolutely exhausted by the trip.
Or this is Michael Blackburn - Laser Worlds champ - crossing Bass strait. He took a decade to learn to sail a laser really well.
Back to how to do it. I am a sea kayaker too. Paul Caffin, Freya Hoffmeister and Stuart Truman have all circumnavigated. I would not do it in a kayak. The best boat for me would be a small version of a Malibu outrigger - stable, fast and easy to right after capsize. Gary Dierking has a beautiful design called the Ulua which would be fab for a trip up the coast. Safe, fast under paddle and sail, light enough to move up the beach on your own. I would take a ply version of this boat.
Read Trumans book. Then go to a sea kayak convention and talk to people who do this type of stuff. Sail the east coast in the autumn in an Ulua. That would be fun.
Don't take a Laser.
thank you for all this info, I have a lot of reading to do :) an easy coast trip does sound fun, and a lot more manageable
As noted above, no chance of a 10 knot ave on a Laser. Olympic medallist averaged less than 9 in perfect conditions across Bass Strait. www.sail-world.com/Australia/Bass-Strait-conquered-by-Laser-sailor/-16648?source=google . His time is still quicker than an attempt on something like a B14. I'd look for something with a "bit" of comfort (and room to carry a surfboard), maybe not something I can drag up and down the beach, but can dry out; maybe an International 23 or Seawind 24 catamaran.... but my life right now won't accommodate that sort of adventure. One day perhaps.
