HI
New to the sailing game, am planning to sail up the east coast to Qld from Port Albert Vic, solo, am interested on the amount of heavy shipping, and where, any help would be good, Thanks
Stephen

Hi Stephen
The safest option is log in with Coast guard. They here just for that
reason, look after boaties.
You can use app to fill up details and trip progress will be monitored.
The most important, you can ask for local advice, they happy
to advice you than rescue you.

Sailing decades Port Philip and Westernport. Suggest south west tip
Of French Is. nice spot when waiting for sailing window to Refuge.
Perhaps San Remo jetty, walking distance to shop. / very strong current /

HI, Thank you for your reply, am not sure its what I wanted to hear, but sounds good advise, I will need to give it more thought, I really wanted to do it solo, and realize sleep is important, and as you say ports are not every 24 hrs, would there be more traffic north or south of Sydney ?
Stephen

Stephen, I agree with Charriot that there is no sleeping around the coast for vessels staying coastal. But I disagree on there is no reason not to do it, there are numerous reasons not to do it. Of course anything can be done but skippers must weigh up the risks and not rely on the view that someone will rescue you .

Going north you stick close to the coast to avoid the East Australian Current, google it or watch Finding Nemo. Here is a link to show you what it looks like.
oceancurrent.imos.org.au/LordHoweS/latest.html
Going outside the EAC is a long way offshore, 36? hours out? Battling against it is possible but it is 2-3 knots a lot of the time and with you doing 5 knots you can see it isn't a good place to be.

Close to the coast you don't have commercial traffic a few times, it is almost constant with fishing and other recreational vessels. Eden, Moruya, Narooma, Batemans Bay, Ulladulla, Greenwell Pt and Kiama are south of Sydney and all have fishing and recreational fleets. Sailing from Sydney to Queensland there are hundreds of small vessels that don't use AIS. E.g. Last year we had 2 fishing trawlers turn their nav lights on 200 metres from us in rain. We could not have seen them if they hadn't seen us and turned their lights on. That was off Norah Head north of Sydney about 5nm out. If you were asleep you would have been in trouble as they were recovering nets and unable to easily manoeuvre.

On those legs that can be done without proper sleep go for it. Take someone with you on the legs you can't do without sleep.

HI Thanks for your reply
I dont wish to seen or be rude, but what is "LUCAS" I only come up with Lucas Heights :)

You need both books NSW and Cruising Coral Coast ...QLD
Buy directly from ..
www.alanlucascruisingguides.com/


Guess you need some charts too, from Vic to Qld,
I have Marine Atlas, 3 books with all chats you need.
Each book was about $50.

Further up, large scale are not much help, standard 800 charts are way to go.
Some charts are not even 60 nm. /AUS622/.
Amount of charts and cost involve is scary .
Check this option 3/4 size
tidesend.com/index.php/chart-portfolios/south-pacific-galapagos-islands
Folio 705

One comment regarding AIS. While it is certainly true that small vessels, such as fishing vessels, are not required to carry AIS, increasingly many of them will at least have an AIS receiver - which have come down in price dramatically in recent years. So while you won't see them (unless they have a transceiver), they'll at least see you, providing you're transmitting AIS signals.

Personally, I would not venture single-handled offshore into busy waters without an AIS transceiver.

RiffRaff is correct about the EAC but it can be a problem as far north as the Tweed.

Only answer is to be close in, and I mean close.

You will also need Beacon to Beacon [any version will do as last I heard it may not be reprinted, anybody know more?]
Curtis Coast and the Whitsundays 100 Magic Miles, I think there is another guide for further north and another for across the top.
And Lucas's books on NSW and Qld.

All these books are available from Boat Books.

Agree with you Jedibrad , short handed night sailing can be tackled , with care. I also use a kitchen timer but allocate only 15 min spells. During my last RTW , 3 years ,there were 2 occasions when I would have been wiped out had I not kept watch.

One in mid N. Atlantic , but on a shipping route ( Ocean Passages for the World , chart ) and the other near Bab el Mendab , in the Gulf of Aden. More ships than you can poke a stick at !

Recently , I have been worried by small craft that move fast , such as off of coastal towns. Previously mentioned in this subject. Even with a crew and full time night watches , have been " surprised " a couple of times. Best strategy , I hope , is to keep well lit up. Clearly the fisherman that move fast , keep a good watch and probably see me from miles away.

In respect of EAC , I can only speak about S. Qld.- Travelling N from Brisbane, there could be a light counter current within 2 m of coast. Out wide , 10m +, have measured 1.5 k southerly , in early Winter , easing as Fraser comes abeam.

Fair winds, Bob

BobFord said..


Recently , I have been worried by small craft that move fast , such as off of coastal towns. Previously mentioned in this subject. Even with a crew and full time night watches , have been " surprised " a couple of times. Best strategy , I hope , is to keep well lit up. Clearly the fisherman that move fast , keep a good watch and probably see me from miles away.


Fair winds, Bob

When I was a fisherman the closest I ever came to a collision was about 3 in the morning when I had a close call with a maxi returning from Hobart. Crossed my bow about 50 metres away doing about 15 knots. At the time I was transiting to the Kiama dropline grounds,crew asleep I was watching TV. Some of the other vessels heading to the same grounds from Kiama were operating one up and traveling in a group. One bloke would keep an eye on the others with radar while they steamed along on autopilot and slept!

Lex and Ramona, Now you've made me think again about small boats at night ! Good to have your feedback , tho'. I must say that my " near ones " , coastal, have been amateur fishermen , the ones that rush out to the reefs at 100knots ! You professionals seem to be always well lit up with your unlimited power !! Do you have advice on longliners ? Going by the" Hardlines" ,on Ch 7 ,they seem to be at least 20 nm offshore. My question - how do you pick out the line floats ? Didn't notice , on tv ,reflectors or lights mid span .

I keep a powerful spot light ready at night so that if I suspect something is around I protect my eyes [to keep my night vision]

And light up my main sail.

That gets the attention of any nearby shipping!