WOD said...
On the other hand, it has been done before (and so has a sail around Tassy, which could be harder and maybe no less dangerous) and not on the sort of gear Alison was using.
I'm NOT saying that Alison's choice was wrong, merely that it's possible to also consider other possible types of gear; including gear that has already made it across or 'round Tassy.
I think Nick Maloney used a Raceboard to cross the Strait, as did Kevin Walton, Rick Burnup and Elise Warring for their round-Tassy epic. Looking at a very different sorts of "small gear", Michael Blackburn got 35-40 knots for a while on his Laser while he was crossing the Strait, but was able to "wait it out" and then make time in the lighter stuff. A B14 skiff type crossed earlier this year, again in a variety of winds.
Very gutsy effort by Alison, of course.
And before that it was crossed on a couple of Windsurfer One Designs. Les Tokli and another, who's name escapes me in this 'seniors' moment..............
Ever since that first windsurfer crossing the topic of further crossings has been fantasized about and discussed in our circles and the various strategies have been thrashed through. The most attractive have changed considerably over the years as windsurfing gear has also changed and advanced but our dream plans always involved north-south travel in a North Easterly wind pattern from the Prom via the various islands and dry rocks to Flinders Island and thence on to the big island.
The gaps between dry land are relatively smaller that way but most importantly, the big High Pressure systems seem to produce more stable, moderate wind conditions. Sure, we get honking Easterlies on the coast but this is enhanced by the sea breeze effect which would fade out to sea. But in the days leading up to the peak of a big High system the North Easterlies can be moderate and very consistent. I think if I were planning a crossing (I'm not....too old
) I would choose gear something very much like Allison did and try to go North-South in a light to moderate East to North -Easterly. Flatter water, good speed but not too fast so I would be physically pounded to a pulp, and the ability to cope if the wind dropped a bit. Well......it's just a fantasy anyhow...............
Good on ya girl for living it for us!
