Bass Straight Circumnavigation Dec 2019

Bass Straight to many is an inhospitable place that is a body of water between the Mainland of Australia (state of Victoria) and the island of Tasmania. Situated at a 40 deg South it is some 500kms wide and 350kms long and while this to many is considered as a large body of water it has an average depth of only 65m. Aboriginal Tasmanians came to Tasmania approximately 40,000 years ago across a land bridge called the Bassin Plain during the last glacial period. Sea levels rose to form Bass Strait approximately 8000 years ago leaving them isolated from the rest of Australia. Aboriginal people lived on Flinders Island until around 4000 years ago. Capt James Cook in the Ship Endeavour came across the straight in April 1770 and it was later named after George Bass, after he and Mathew Flinders passed through it while circumnavigating Van Diememn's Land, now named Tasmania.

bass straight

Given that Bass Strait was originally a land bridge joining mainland Australia and Tasmania there are a number of islands scattered around the circumference of the strait. Many are uninhabited and small but a number are of significant size and offer the nautical traveller an excellent place to anchor and shelter. From the two largest islands of Flinders and King to the smaller Kent group and of course the northern tip of Tasmania itself which is some 200 km long means that with enough time the maximum daily journey can be limited so that the journey can be broken up into sizable chunks and when timed with the summer weather patterns can significantly reduce the impact of Inclement weather.

Of course the natural beauty of these islands is ever present primarily because many are very sparsely populated and remain the same today as they were thousands of years ago. The wildlife is abundant and very unique from local kangaroos, wallabies, birdlife and of course an abundance of sea life there is always something to see whether anchored in a sheltered bay or at sea.

Tasmania and especially King island are renowned worldwide for not only stunning vistas but also gastronomical delights. The local produce is of exceptional quality and ranges from dairy products such as the world-famous King Island cheese to stunning seafood such as scallops and crayfish to some of the world's best meats.Boating around Bass Strait is not for the inexperienced navigator.

Given its location just above the roaring 40s it is susceptible to strong winds and bumpy seas. However, for the seagoing among us that are prepared to take the time, sail on the best weather conditions available and are not in a rush the rewards can offer a lifetime of memories.

the boat & route

Terra Firma is a Hense 54 and what can only be described as a great option for completing what turned out to be a very enjoyable 10 day circumnavigation.

Owned by Nicholas Bartel the boat is extremely well appointed for this type of cruising and while the boat affords many of the mod cons of a cruising boat it is quite handy under sail and as such is no slow coach and thus made completing this tour extremely enjoyable and entertaining.
Onboard (4) middle aged gents, skippered by Nicholas Bartel, crewed by Chris Broadhead, Grant Bidos and your's truly Peter La Fontaine.

Stocked with plenty of necessities we set sail from Sandringham Yacht Club Melbourne on the magnificent Port Phillip Bay.

Our route will take us passed Wilsons Promontory, then on to the Kent group of Islands stopping in beautiful untouched bays of Deal Island, we then head to Lady Barwon Island which is just below Flinders Island , then a non stop jaunt across Bass Strait to Stanley which is located on the north eastern tip of mainland Tasmania, then to King Island and returning to Melbourne.

deal island

Sailing Overnight from melbourne through port phillip bay then a great run along the southern coastline of victoria with light winds we arrived the next morning into deal island.