Bass Strait Updates

Trip Notes for 28 February 2006

From Whitemark to Emita (Flinders Island)

Locals Luke and Matt admire our boats. Matt offers to do the car shuffle from TAS to VIC for us.

Both mascots are secured with a life line (after the penguin went for a swim).

We are in no hurry to leave Whitemark since we are waiting for the high tide to avoid long portage, and we also want to get the outgoing currents. On the water at 10:30am. When we leave, the local school kids grade 3 and 4 are having a swim in the ocean — they watch us leaving — that will have them talking for days! Battle into headwinds up to Long Point, quick stop in the lee of the headland. Kevin's mascot penguin goes for a swim and would surely have stayed there, if it wasn't for Adrian and Bruce finding the little bugger and rescuing him ;-) Kevin puts a lifeline onto both mascots, the crocodile and the penguin.

Battle on into strong headwinds to Settlement Point. Here, we watched the muttonbirds returning to their nests last night. Arrive at camp in a small horseshow bay past Allports Beach at 2pm. This is the best camp of the trip. Water, toilets, picknick bench, fire place, no horseflies!

Shortly after we had a good swim and a late lunch, two locals walk down to our bay. Luke and Matt had heard about us (the Flinders people know us by now) and come for a chat. Matt admires our kayaks, gets interested in the details of the trip planning equipment, weather implications, and the transport logistics. Matt, who lives in Launceston, offers to do the car shuffle of Adrian's car for us from Gladstone (TAS) into Port Welshpool (VIC). ;-) We fix the deal, and Matt does a 1000km, 2-day shuffle for us (involving the car on the Devonport-Melbourne ferry, bus from Welshpool into Melbourne, bus into airport, flight across the Strait). As a result, both cars will be waiting for us at the end of our trip if we make it. Incredibly many thanks, Matt!

Stats for the day
  • 22 km in 3h 30mins, no major stop.
  • Average speed (excl. break): 6.29 km/h
Text message from Claudia

In Emita (Flinders Island), best camping spot so far, really stunning! Water, picnic table, all provided. No horseflies! Tomorrow Killiecrankie.

Notes on the Weather (Issued at 11:20am on Monday the 27th of February 2006)
Recent Events:

A weak trough over northeastern Tasmania was moving away to the east of the state this morning as a 1026 hPa high pressure system south of South Australia extends a ridge over northern Tasmania during the day. A cold front was also approaching from the west and was expected to cross the state during Tuesday. Isolated thunderstorms about the midlands and east coast late yesterday afternoon, with slight showers clearing overnight. Cool to cold overnight with isolated fog patches about the upper Derwent Valley this morning, with fine conditions elsewhere. Chiefly light and variable winds, tending fresh west to northwesterly about the southwest.

Minimum Temperatures during the 24 hours to 9am:

were well below average statewide, up to 9 degrees below in the northwest and midlands with remaining districts mostly around 2 to 6 degrees below average. The lowest reported temperature was -2 degrees recorded at Liawenee.

Rainfall during the 24 hours to 9am:

Light to moderate falls about the northeast, light about the east, southeast and west with isolated light falls elsewhere. The highest reported fall of 17 millimetres was recorded at Mount Victoria.

Coastal Waters Forecast (Issued at 5:00 am EDT on Tuesday 28 February 2006)
Central North Coast, Stanley to the Northern Tip of Flinders Is:

Tuesday until midnight: West to northwesterly winds 10 to 20 knots, reaching 25 knots at times later, before turning southwesterly in the evening at 10 to 20 knots. Seas 1 to 2 metres. Westerly swell to 1.5 metres.

Wednesday: Southwest to southerly winds 5 to 15 knots, locally 20 knots offshore early, tending east to northeasterly during the day then increasing to 10 to 20 knots later. Seas to 1.5 metres. Westerly swell to 2 metres, becoming confused late.

Thursday: East to northeasterly winds 10 to 20 knots. Seas 1 to 2 metres. East to northeast swell to 1 metre.