Southport to Middleton & Elizabeth Reefs to Lord Howe ISland to hobart / 1,400nm / 1 - 16 Sep 2024
16 DAYS / cat 1 Expedition / Event #2424 / salt lines: CREW positions available
This offshore passage is a 1,400nm expedition from Southport on the sunny Queensland Gold Coast, to Middleton and Elizabeth Reef’s, 300nm to the east, Lord Howe Island 100nm to the south and finally 940nm to Hobart; Australia’s southern most port.
We’ll circumnavigate the notorious Middleton Reef and (weather permitting) stopover at Elizabeth Reef. These are two of the southern most platform reefs in the world and the 6nm long reefs rise up from the 4,000 metre deep Tasman Sea floor and are both visible at low tide. They have claimed more than 70 vessels in the past 100 years with some wrecks still visible on the reefs.
Longer than a Tasman Sea crossing, this is also a unique opportunity to stop at Lord Howe Island, meet the locals and take in some of the sights of life on an island less than 7nm in length. Lord Howe Island is surrounded by amazing sea life and steep Jurassic like cliff faces at the southern end. When we depart Lord Howe Island we'll head 15nm south east past Ball's Pyramid, a rock rising 551 metres out of the sea from the ocean floor, before we turn SW for the ocean passage to our planned Tasmania anchorages as we sail down the rugged Tasmanian coastline on the passage to Hobart.
We will plan around the weather and also select from stopover options once we hit the Tasmanian Coast that include;
Wineglass Bay
Port Arthur
The route we take and recommended anchorages are based on careful research, professional meteorological advice and detailed local sailing knowledge.
Secure your place on the crew with a 20% deposit.
AUD$8,750
16 days
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Click the links above to review examples from previous sailing events across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
Itinery
You can fly directly into Gold Coast or Brisbane airport’s on the 1st of September 2024 and you will join us for a crew welcome dinner. On the 2nd of September we'll meet for breakfast early, then we'll familiarise you with the yacht, systems and safety equipment and get you ready for departure including running through final checks and preparations and depart from the dock around midday. We will aim to arrive in Hobart by the 15th of September, so you should aim to depart out of Hobart Airport on the 16th of September.
Lord Howe Island, where we will tie up on a mooring in the lagoon on the western side
The Bass Strait crossing to the eastern Tasmanian coastline includes some of the most extreme maritime scenery in Australia. The final stages of the voyage see with a stopover at Wineglass Bay with bright white beaches and pink granite mountains rising steeply out of the sea, before we head south through the stunning Schouten Passage, down the east coast to Maria Island, around Cape Pillar, Tasman Island past unforgettable views of the towering dolerite cliffs of Cape Raoul and past the nineteenth century convict settlement of Port Arthur.
Here’s what you will experience onboard
Sailing: Hoisting, trimming and reefing both upwind (main, genoas, and jibs) and downwind sails (poled out headsails, spinnakers, gennakers and code 0’s (subject to weather).
Watch duties: Acting as watch captain (day and night), helming, navigating, checking weather and monitoring AIS and radar and for both traffic and rain squalls.
Weather: Downloading and analysing the latest weather forecasts and calculating best route to destination.
Navigation: Navigating, hazard identification, entering waypoints and calculating updated ETA’s.
Leadership: Watch roster planning, matching responsibility to experience, crew management and communication.
Safety: Familiarisation of all safety procedures, sail planning, storm preparation planning and abandon ship procedures.
Training: Use of PDF’s (Personal Flotation Devices), PLB’s (Personal Locator Beacons), safety tethers, dan buoy’s, storm drogue, liferaft and any other equipment required to ensure you remain safe in all conditions.
Personal wellbeing: Advice on how to take responsibility for managing clothing, hydration, sleep and nutrition to maintain your health and well being aboard.
Passage planning: Planning our arrival and route to safe harbour including timing with daylight (if required), weather factors, navigational hazards, communications / customs and sail/motor arrival plan.
Click the links above to review examples from previous sailing events across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
Exclusions
Your crew package excludes; accommodation ashore, flights and transport to and from departure and arrival ports, alcohol, toiletries, clothing and wet weather gear. Its always recommended that you book flights with date flexibility incase of unforeseen changes due to weather or schedules. Accommodation options if you want to stay ashore either side of trip: AirBNB, Booking.com, Wotif & HomeAway.
Inclusions
Your crew package includes; all meals onboard, crew meals in Southport, Lord Howe Island, Hobart and various stopover ports en-route, accommodation onboard, your crew shirt, marina fees, the use of a PFD (personal flotation device), PLB (personal locator beacon), and a safety tether. Your bedding, a pillow and towel are also included along with suncream.
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