Through the heads and cruising Bass Strait

[frozenpod]

It is not that bad, no different to any other entrance.

It is advisable to cross on an incoming tide and when the ocean swell is small. ie not on a calm day after there was a few days of strong wind.

[Bugatti]

Just as a point of interest , , , , how long would the trip take?

[frozenpod]

It is about 65km from the yarra to the heads. Depending on the boat it could take anywhere from 1 to 2hrs each way.

[Blue]

I,m not an experienced Rip man and cannot attempt to advise you.
However,as with all things connected with boating and particularly on “big” water, I reckon you take or go with an experienced
bloke,listen to him and watch how he goes about it.Not to suggest you are a novice, I have no idea, but best to learn before,not after, possible problems.It,s tough water but manageable if you point your wheels the right way.
Good luck and take care.
Blue

[SteveoTheTiger]

Been out the rip a handful of times. Been in the rip a dozen times. On its day it’s pristine. When it decides to be scary it’s bloody terrifying.

I’d be very hesitant to do a trip out there for the first time on anything but a dead calm day. Especially coming back on a different ride than you left. Example very light breeze on Sunday just past. Run out tide. 4-5m High rollers on the Queenscliff side.

If going for a mosey I’d launch at newhaven and do eastern entrance or head out the western from stony:hastings

Yep Thanks
My boat is berthed in a Marina in the Yarra And I don't have a trailer so my only option is to go through the Heads.

Not sure what boat you have Kestrel (obviously pretty big), but that is a long trip. As frozenpod said, you are looking at about 2hrs just to get to the heads on a nice day. If it blows up then you can add a bit of time on to that (and fuel).

Im pretty sure a lot of the cruising sailboats do it in multiple days. They anchor up around Sorrento or Queenscliff and then head out the following day. Timing their run with slack tide. But obviously a sail boat is going to take a lot longer than a motorboat.

[Kestrel]

Been out the rip a handful of times. Been in the rip a dozen times. On its day it’s pristine. When it decides to be scary it’s bloody terrifying.

I’d be very hesitant to do a trip out there for the first time on anything but a dead calm day. Especially coming back on a different ride than you left. Example very light breeze on Sunday just past. Run out tide. 4-5m High rollers on the Queenscliff side.

If going for a mosey I’d launch at newhaven and do eastern entrance or head out the western from stony:hastings

Yep Thanks
My boat is berthed in a Marina in the Yarra And I don't have a trailer so my only option is to go through the Heads.

Not sure what boat you have Kestrel (obviously pretty big), but that is a long trip. As frozenpod said, you are looking at about 2hrs just to get to the heads on a nice day. If it blows up then you can add a bit of time on to that (and fuel).

Im pretty sure a lot of the cruising sailboats do it in multiple days. They anchor up around Sorrento or Queenscliff and then head out the following day. Timing their run with slack tide. But obviously a sail boat is going to take a lot longer than a motorboat.

Thanks Stevo . Mine is a Merry Fisher 20' so not that big. There is lots of good advice about going our through the Rip and I'd always be very careful about that. I guess my question and interest is what are the conditions like after getting out into Bass Strait ... and I suppose the answer to that is that it is different each day!

[frozenpod]

Bass strait is typical of offshore conditions. On a typical day rolling swell of anywhere from 0.5 to 2m.

It can produce some very nasty seas 35m waves etc but it takes days of bad weather to build up.

[ango]

I have been through the rip in my boat, a 4.5 m tinny, you need to pick a day with a small tide range and a favorable weather report. Go out on slack water and if the swell is up pull the pin and don't do it. I have done lots of bar crossings and can say the ability to call it off if it looks a bit dicey is the best skill to have. You also need to think about getting back in, on most bars you can get on the back of a swell and follow it in no worries, but in the rip, if the tide is running out hard and there is a bit of swell around with a northerly wind, you will be stuck outside the heads. Cheers
Ango.

[SnapperRapper]

Yep. Agreed. The Heads need to be respected

[Kestrel]

Thanks for the advice guys about getting out through the Rip ... very helpful.
What I was really trying to get info about was your experiences of what it's like out in Bass Strait AFTER getting through the Heads.
I have a 7 metre Merry Fisher.
Anyone care to share their experiences?
Cheers
Kestrel