Hi, if you were sailing around the Australia coastline in a 30 foot yacht (all the way), starting in Sydney Harbour Jan1 and returning to Sydney Harbour Dec 31st...which way would you go and why? So Jan 1, Sydney Heads, turn left (north) or right (south)?
I don't have much knowledge on this so I like to get advice from sailors who have done this OR have done sections of the coastline.
I would assume direction (with the above start/stop dates) would come down to best seasonal winds/direction, currents, weather (summer/winter), storm/cyclone seasons etc.
Cyclone season normally Nov-April for the tropics (Qld, NT, Northern WA).
East Coast lows are normally May-Aug for NSW/south Qld/ eastern Vic coast
I would think prevailing wind direction and currents would be the key factor in determining if the trip would be clockwise (turn right and head south) or counter-clockwise (turn left and head north)
Also if someone has done this already and done a blog or book on it I'd love to know.
Go swell.

You would southace, we talking 30 foot yacht.

Charriot said..
You would southace, we talking 30 foot yacht.

Yeah why not, Jan till the end of April is a time to passage Southern waters and March is usually good with SE to E breezes.

cisco said..
would want something bigger than a 30 footer. There are some long hops between drinks.

So would I, but a bloke did it in a Top Hat a couple of years ago.

There are a few things to consider.
1. Typhoon season.

2. Currents

3. Predominant winds.
www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/wind/wrspr9.shtml
Here is a sample of the winter wind map. Of course it is inland and coastal, but a bit of searching and you will get better info
No matter which way you go, ( Anti-clockwise to avoid winter in the bight.
clockwise to be clear of the typhoons.) you can bet on 50% against wind or current so it is basically a toss up.
You go clockwise , you will be up north in cyclone season.
You go anti-clockwise , you will be in the bight in winter.
My suggestion. , flip a coin.

I would the anti route. After three winters sailing in Japan I know how to rug up.

gary

Let's be positive. This guy build from ply 8 meter yacht, no engine, no radio and successfully sail around the world.

back at the turn of the century the beach de mer boats would often leave torres straight at the end of the season and travel via wa to avoid the se trades down the east coast might be 100 years later but the trades still blow

Took me 6 months just to get to the boarder!

Which border Salty?
South, Sydney-Eden. or
North, Sydney- Coolangatta?

Gary

Definately head south out of Sydney. One thing in favour is the afternoon sea breezes will be in your favour for the whole of summer and the prevailing easterlies will get you across the bight.
If you get to cape York early october the trade winds have usually backed off a bit but still be prepared for some motoring during calms and some windward work.
November often has periods of a week or more of northerlies, but you have to keep moving so not much sight seeing, coz it can switch back to 25 knot SE trade wind for weeks at a time.
South of Whitsundays there is a lot more favourable weather so it usually is pretty easy from there.
i dont know much about WA but heading east across the bottom in spring/summer will mean using cold fronts because the periods of nice weather will often be seabreases on the nose, often at around 20 knots.

Charriot said..
Let's be positive. This guy build from ply 8 meter yacht, no engine, no radio and successfully sail around the world.

Yes one bloke did it but how many tried and failed. It all depends on why you are doing it. If you have some sub conscious thing to prove to someone or yourself then go without a motor. If you want to enjoy yourself, get the biggest boat you can afford and maintain

cisco said..
If you are serious about circumnavigating Australia from Sydney, you have to head east first and round Lord Howe Island and Ball's Pyramid. Maybe Norfolk as well.

From there head direct to Hobart.

So cisco, does that mean we have to round Heard Island, Cocos Islands and Christmas Islands to claim a real circumnavigation?

Shoot!!! We own a slice of Antarctica too don't we.

My plan would be anti clockwise and cross the bight first for the following reasons:
- my understanding is November to December is a good time for going across the bottom West to East;
There are various sources of wind. I just chose the easiest to access. www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/wind/
I input Esperance winds in November and got this


Then December and got this

Will be in a 40 footer so windward work is less of an issue.

Less that what? Looks like a long hard slog to me.
Hope someone who has done it can jump in and fill you in.
Or that you can find an other source of information that contradicts the BOM.

gary

Less than the 30 footer in the op.

Yep, you are right there.
Either way It is a trip I would love to do , but know I never will.
gary

cisco said..
Shoot!!! We own a slice of Antarctica too don't we.

No we only claim most of it on this side.

I sailed from Hobart to Perth in January, the trick is wait in Coffin Bay or Streaky bay until there is a high in the southern ocean, then stay about 30-40 miles from the coast across the Bight, the land creates its own weather pattern close in. It took 5 days from Streaky Bay to Middle Island, then a day of daylight sailing through the archipeligo tp Esperance. After that it 2-day/one night hops to Perth and up the coast.