Crossing Bass Strait by Sea Kayak, 2015

Crossing Bass Strait by sea kayak, March 2015. Taking 18 days to cross the Bass Strait from Tasmania to Wilsons Prom, Victoria. For further information on this trip visit my blog at wordpress.com/view/gregyoung....

[@mairnealachamu]

This is the stuff that dreams are made of. Thanks for sharing.

[@gregyoung4640]

Appreciate your comment. Cheers.

[@Dev.Walker]

Love the trip! Thanks for sharing. Also love seeing the flat earth sail! Just ordered mine waiting to get it installed and test it out.

[@gregyoung4640]

Thanks. Have fun with your Flat Earth sail.!

[@saritabay]

What a challenging adventure! I sea-kayak - when the wind is technically a breeze - that's it. Thanks for sharing a remarkable achievement!

[@gregyoung4640]

Appreciate your comment.

[@Theileflottante]

great video, thanks for sharing! what a badass trip.

[@johnsullivan2449]

An amazing trip Greg. Well done.

[@gregyoung4640]

Thanks John.

[@pa1264]

Great video good to see a great group of kayakers going on an awesome adventure😁.

[@gregyoung4640]

Thanks for your comment.

[@jimdickson1969]

Been fishing on Bass Strait with heavy rolling swells and wind.. not for the feint hearted so props for doing it in kayaks!! Bigger balls than I have 🙄🤣

[@gregyoung4640]

Thanks for watching

[@robbiewales3007]

It would be a exciting challenge to do something like that

[@JojoPaulEdakkatt]

Super 💕❤️ Thrilling.. Adventures.,

[@gregyoung4640]

Thanks. A trip like this takes a fair bit of preparation and training (and risk taking) but well worth it.

[@jasonroberts8128]

Could you do this in a plastic sea kayak, or only a composite boat? I would love to do this but will need to spend some years getting my skills up. I grew up in Alice Springs so not a lot of kayaking there :) It looks amazing, thanks for sharing.

[@gregyoung4640]

Hi Jason, Thanks. I haven’t got experience with plastic kayaks but can make a comment. My first kayak was the one I’ve still got - a Mirage 580 Fibreglass/ Kevlar. I expect that it would largely depend on what type of paddler you are. If you’re very fit, with a good level of stamina and endurance you may not have a problem in paddling a traditional plastic /Polyethylene sea kayak across the Bass Strait. However, I would expect that the average paddler would find the undertaking a fair bit more challenging. Plastic rotomoulded kayaks, although tough, are heavier and wider than a typical carbon/Kevlar/glass sea kayaks. They are ideal for rock gardens, surf and practicing skills - more of a playboat that will take some rough treatment. There were a couple of blokes in a plastic double that did the Bass Strait crossing when we did ours in 2015. They were going in the opposite direction (North to South) without any trouble and made the journey in reasonable time. However, having two paddlers in a double kayak is more efficient in terms of power to weight ratio than one person in a single kayak. For an expedition such as Bass Strait I reckon you should have a faster touring kayak. The days and stretches between beaches are long and often tiring. You want to give yourself every chance of success in completing the crossing. Sometimes there are only small windows of suitable weather. Why make it any tougher than it already is? Intensive training during the months leading up to my trip was important for me. I was paddling three times a week and did some big days to give myself the best preparation. Many kayaker's dream about a doing the Bass Strait but not a lot actually do it. It takes a big personal commitment and sacrifice. Sometimes you can wait too long and for one reason or another, such as work or other unexpected things, the years go by. I started paddling at the age of 53, two years before my Bass Strait trip. All the best, and good luck.

[@islandbirdw]

Radical

[@gregyoung4640]

Thanks for watching

[@pa1264]

love to cross it on a PA12 kayak or Hobie outback kayak😁👍🐟🤙

[@gregyoung4640]

You could catch your food on the way 👍

[@pa1264]

@@gregyoung4640 That sounds good Greg👍😁

[@MerlinMan1579]

I am looking at purchasing an expedition kayak, how did you find the ‘Mirage’?

[@gregyoung4640]

There are so many choices of kayaks. I have only ever owned (and experienced) two kayaks since 2014 when I initially took up this activity. My first boat, after getting advice from a well-respected Victoria Sea Kayak Club member, was the Mirage 580. My second boat, in an effort to get some higher performance and more speed, was an Epic 18x. Both these boats were so different. The Epic was super-fast, however it did not have the stability I was used to with the Mirage and I struggled to master it. Although both boats had similar waterline lengths the hull shape of the Epic was more V shaped. After a period of trying to adapt to the Epic I decided to sell it and stick with my Mirage. The Mirage was a pleasure to paddle. They are stable, tough, fast and can handle a range of conditions. Cargo/ storage wise the Mirage was good. Nice watertight compartments which allowed me to store food, water (15 Ltrs) and other items for up to 24 days during the Bass Strait expedition (which took 18 days). One complaint in terms of storage was that hatch covers were on the small size. The Mirage has a permanent rudder which I like, but this is a personal choice. Some paddlers say that rudders make you lazy. My thoughts are that with a rudder less energy goes into paddle strokes for steering, and you can keep a straighter line, especially when sailing. Because the rudder protrudes below the bottom I I’m 6’3” and not that heavy (80 kg after Bass Strait), which was favourable for the Mirage 580. The downside of the 580 is that has a basic seat and low deck height which can cramp your legs. I found it slightly uncomfortable during my Bass Strait crossing experiencing and developed a sore bum after a few hours in the seat. I’ve heard that Nadgee’s and Eco Bezhig’s are examples of boats that can be more comfortable. Mirages are popular for expeditions. I would say that more Mirage’s have crossed Bass Straight than any other make. They are good for touring and expedition but with minimum ‘rocker’ perhaps not as good for playing in the surf or rock gardens. Every boat is a compromise. Hope this helps.

[@stringbean90]

Trip 10! Music negative 10!

[@gregyoung4640]

Thanks for watching.

[@maxfr142]

Did you see any sharks?

[@gregyoung4640]

Dolphins, seals and penguins but no sharks.