OK, these may be basic questions but now that I am seeing the potential fun to be had on my Glide I would like some recommendations which I will list as seperate questions so giving a specific answer is easier.
1A. To cross Westernport bay should you do it at Low tide, High Tide or Slack Tide?
1B. What wind direction is preferable and at what speed?
2. Port Phillip bay crossing should be from point A to point B? And the same tide/ wind question as in question 1.
3. Do you need to notify more than your wife where and when you will leave/arrive?
4. Should you have a flair and I don't mean 1970's pants?
5. Should you carry more than a couple of litres of water?
6. Besides a PFD is there any other protective clothing that should always go with you?
7. Do you need to follow the same rules as a boat?
8. Who has right of way and does a boat have to slow down approaching a SUP?
9 When crossing Port Phillip is there a good or bad time to cross, there are some big ass ships coming from the Ports?
DOWNWINDING.
1. What wind direction is best to do St Kilda to Sandringham?
2. Does tide matter ever?
3. Besides a group what else should I know?
thanks in advance for your answers!
When you say you want to cross Port Phillip and Westernport, do you have specific start and end points you are thinking of?
StKilda to Sandringham ideally needs NNW but a due North works just fine. Tide doesn't matter on that run. Just be aware if it's low tide not to get too close to Green Point as the reef could trip you up.
If you are crossing the shipping channel on Port Phillip, just be aware that the channel is 250 metres across so line up a marker buoy and make sure there are no ships approaching from either direction. If you can see it coming even from a couple of kilometres away, then you should stop at the marker and wait for the ship to pass. The channel is (obviously) substantially deeper than the rest of the bay so you will suddenly experience very different conditions and you don't want to fall with a ship bearing down on you. You should also consult the shipping arrivals and departures website to know whether there are any ships due: www.vicports.vic.gov.au/operations/Pages/ship-movements.aspx
You will see ships out there - some may be anchored out on the bay waiting for their window to come in and dock. It's a bit unnerving as you try to work out whether they are moving or not. You look for smoke coming out of the funnels. Or if your eyesight is good enough, look for anchor chains.
Legally, you are not required to carry a flare on Port Phillip, but depending on your intended route across Westernport, you may require two different types of flares as well as an EPIRB, a compass and a waterproof torch. And of course, a PFD. There is no legal requirement for any other clothing but it is strongly recommended that you wear hi vis orange or yellow/green, and you consider water temperature and air temperature on the day - you don't want to overheat but you also need to be aware that if you lose your board and you are in the water for an extended time, it's the hypothermia that will kill you.
On right of way, a motorised boat has to give way to a human powered vessel (SUP) and has to slow down to 5 knots within 50 metres of any other vessel (including a SUP) unless it is involved in a race. But I wouldn't be aiming to press legal rights after you've been crushed by a merchant ship. When you see anything big and fast coming at you, you give way to them. Also, the bigger merchant ships in the channel have bugger all opportunity to turn to avoid you. The channel isn't wide enough. And the cost of one of them running aground is probably going to be greater than a compensation payout to your widow.
Thanks for the info, I was thinking Cribb Point to Cowes and no idea for Port Phillip maybe I should just do StKilda to Williamstown or do the charity crossing I have seen on SB last year?
I don't think they're doing the Mad Paddle charity thing this year. It is run every two years. I think they've done it three times now and they've only been able to cross the bay once. The other times have been along the coast due to wind direction.
Williamstown to StKilda or vice versa is a really good insight into crossing the channel, albeit that the channel is really narrow so close to the port and the ships move a lot slower and you don't quite have the sense of being in the middle of the bay. You don't even need to go to StKilda, you can do that exploration from Port Melbourne or Sandridge and just paddle out around the end of Webb Dock and scoot straight across to Willy.
From Crib Point to Cowes, you would not need the flares and EPIRB and all the rest of the gear as that is regarded as enclosed waters rather than coastal. But you would definitely need a PFD. And obviously a legrope although it's not law.
I think doing crossings is not a good idea. The problem is that you are paddling from safety to ... nothing. If you have a problem then you have no way out.
Far better is coast runs. You can paddle as far as you want and you have ready access to an escape route. The only thing you need to keep an eye on is offshore winds.
The absolute rule number one rule of adventuring is to have an escape route and to preserve it at all costs. An escape route is either ready access to a landing site, or a plan to get help if you need it. Cover that and you can go as hard as you want.
The best escape route is where you have plans to rescue yourself. It's sort of a fail if you need to be rescued by somebody else, especially if you could have avoided that by some simple contingency planning.
Select to expand quotePTWoody said..
I don't think they're doing the Mad Paddle charity thing this year. It is run every two years. I think they've done it three times now and they've only been able to cross the bay once. The other times have been along the coast due to wind direction.
Williamstown to StKilda or vice versa is a really good insight into crossing the channel, albeit that the channel is really narrow so close to the port and the ships move a lot slower and you don't quite have the sense of being in the middle of the bay. You don't even need to go to StKilda, you can do that exploration from Port Melbourne or Sandridge and just paddle out around the end of Webb Dock and scoot straight across to Willy.
From Crib Point to Cowes, you would not need the flares and EPIRB and all the rest of the gear as that is regarded as enclosed waters rather than coastal. But you would definitely need a PFD. And obviously a legrope although it's not law.
Good to know thanks!
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..
I think doing crossings is not a good idea. The problem is that you are paddling from safety to ... nothing. If you have a problem then you have no way out.
Far better is coast runs. You can paddle as far as you want and you have ready access to an escape route. The only thing you need to keep an eye on is offshore winds.
The absolute rule number one rule of adventuring is to have an escape route and to preserve it at all costs. An escape route is either ready access to a landing site, or a plan to get help if you need it. Cover that and you can go as hard as you want.
The best escape route is where you have plans to rescue yourself. It's sort of a fail if you need to be rescued by somebody else, especially if you could have avoided that by some simple contingency planning.
Appreciate your advise you make good points!
One item I did not notice in the list above is your cell phone. When you get to Cowes and the north wind comes up you can call your wife to come and get you. And then you will need your phone to call a lawyer to defend you in the divorce 
Select to expand quotecantSUPenough said..
One item I did not notice in the list above is your cell phone. When you get to Cowes and the north wind comes up you can call your wife to come and get you. And then you will need your phone to call a lawyer to defend you in the divorce
Lol, we are newly weds so no sweat she won't mind!
PM me if you want company on the way across.
Sean (also on FB with SUPVIC & various pods...)
Select to expand quotekomsup said..
PM me if you want company on the way across.
Sean (also on FB with SUPVIC & various pods...)
Thanks I will, prefer company.
