Sydney to Hobart on an F18

MICHELLE PAINE
March 18, 2008 12:00am
THEY just spent six days in a tiny boat and it may as well have leaked, because Rod Waterhouse was never dry during a dramatic trip from Sydney.

Last night Mr Waterhouse, 49, and his son Jason, 16, sailed into Hobart on their 18-foot Hobie Tiger catamaran.

Mr Waterhouse and Kerli Corlette left Sydney Harbour last Tuesday.

Mr Corlette made way for Jason, a world champion sailor, at St Helens.

Mr Waterhouse said it was probably the first time Bass Strait had been crossed in such a vessel.

"I tried to do this in the mid-80s, we had a back-up power boat but that didn't work and we called the trip off half-way. It was always a regret," Mr Waterhouse said.

"This time we had our own backup, we had our own security, a satellite phone and back-up system."

Mr Waterhouse and his family have done many years of offshore and long-distance racing but it all paled next to Bass Strait.

"Bass Strait is very difficult. It's intimidating on a small boat. It's cold, there's no escape, you can't get out of

the cold. And we kept trying to lose speed," he said.

"We were very careful not to put it over."

One of the biggest challenges was slowing down the quick Hobie as it soared down the huge waves of Bass Strait.

The cat is capable of 25 knots.

"The first leg was close to 400 miles without a break; four days without a break. You get tired, there's no respite, but that's part of the challenge," Mr Waterhouse said.

The only stop before St Helens was Batemans Bay.

That is pretty amazing stuff, just goes to show how tuff hobie tiger /f18's really are.

After the last 3 days at sea, not something I would want to take on in a hurry!

Worrell 1000 legend with atleast 11 under his belt and 3 wins.

He knows a little about long distance sailing