Olympian Michael Blackburn to cross Bass Strait
by Lulu Roseman 5 Mar 2005 06:51 GMT
Since early this week, Olympic Medallist Michael Blackburn has been on stand-by for his attempt to sail a Laser dinghy across Australia's Bass Strait. He is set to depart Sunday morning March 6th 2005.
The Laser is the world’s most popular adult sailboat. However, Lasers are only 4.2m long with a single sail and no substantial cockpit, no lifelines, no engine, sailed with one crew and, of course, not designed for such a feat.
The audacity to challenge a dangerous stretch of open water, in such a tiny and seemingly insufficient vessel, must seem insane to an outsider.
Michael and his support team have travelled to Stanley in North West Tasmania to wait for a suitable southerly wind in order to surf on thousands of Bass Strait swells to Victoria.
Located at roughly 40 degrees south latitude, the strait leaves sailors unprotected against the howling winds of the Roaring 40s.
Bass Strait is the 140 nautical miles (252km) of waterway between Tasmania and Australia and is normally only attempted by substantial craft.
The Strait is relatively shallow and captures the weather patterns of higher latitudes.
It is 115 nautical miles (nm) (207km) from Stanley in Tasmania to Tidal River in Victoria. In between is a waterway with one of the fiercest reputations on the planet. A mother ship will follow Michael all the way.
Renowned Australian meteorologist Roger ‘Clouds’ Badham, has been engaged to give the green light. The plan is to wait for a SW-S front to pass through then take off once the breeze is settled.
"I need the wind to blow from the SW to SSE at 14-25 knots to make for a fast crossing. The aim is to sail downwind only. Even with the most favourable conditions, the crossing will take 14 hours. So, depending on the conditions, I expect to depart Stanley in the middle of the night,” Blackburn says.
Latest weather reports indicate south westerly winds with a 2 to 3 metre swell blowing up to 20 knots.
GPS data from sailing a Laser downwind in strong winds suggests that Michael will be able to maintain speeds of 8-12 knots over a long period. Therefore, the trip will take approximately 14-18 hours non-stop.
"The first few hours before dawn will be quite hazardous – cold and windy. I won’t be able to see the waves and will have to sail very conservatively to keep upright and dry. I will be using a hand-held GPS and analogue compass to navigate. Other equipment I’ll carry include an inflatable PFD (life jacket), strobe light, flares, satellite phone, EPIRBs, food and drink, VHF radio and light sticks. The latter two items will help me keep in touch with the support boat."
Sponsors include Estate Master - Hill PDA, The Sailing Scene (supplying the Laser), Ronstan, Queensport Wetsuits, The Wooden Boat Shop and Arthur Brett Sails.
More information at www.sailfitter.com