Ep. 6 - The SMALLEST Dinghy To Circumnavigate Bruny Island: A Welsford SCAMP

A Welsford SCAMP travels more than 70NM in three days to become quite possibly the smallest boat to circumnavigate Bruny Island, Tasmania.
All the music is by Alan Gogoll - www.alangogoll...

[@steveporteous3157]

Fantastic video Mat - thanks for sharing! Great seamanship shown on a very challenging voyage for "Sea Dog", and some impressive average speeds for boat under 12ft. Happy New Year from NE Scotland!

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks Steve. I enjoy your videos too! Stay Salty, Mat 👍🏾⚓️

[@damoog5985]

7+ knots in a 12' displacement hull. Fantastic. Great videos, thanks!

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

thanks again mate

[@brucenourish3050]

Brilliant mate. Would love a rundown of customizations you've made to your SCAMP, and a run down of your galley, sleeping and electronic gear.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Great idea! I'll do something like that in a future episode. Stay tuned.

[@christeague7596]

I would like a vid of this aswel please​@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx

[@CrimeVid]

I'd guess you were going to be late home !

[@jj680l]

Certainly one of the best SCAMP adventures ever recorded! Mighty boat indeed!

[@christeague7596]

Wow what a great vid... thoroughly enjoyed it....what a boat the scamp is..👍

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@dmain6735]

Great upload. Scamp and the skipper has the goods.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

thanks mate

[@stevec-b6214]

Wow, that is a helluva boat, sailed well.

[@chrisstockman904]

Another great job Mat, both the adventure and the video. Inspirational. Great endorsement of the SCAMP design.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

thanks Chris

[@stuartwebb5978]

Awesome. Love the little wind vane on the mast, helps us feel more onboard knowing the wind direction.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Glad you liked it!

[@nickrose1778]

Another excellent excursion, maybe the best I've seen that showcases the mighty Scamp. Looking forward to more adventures. Cheers

[@HighMaintenancePS]

What a sail! And what a little “champ” of a boat all 11’11” of Her. And you Sir are a man. Any man who can and will sail as such as this is almost determined to be a great man indeed! 😂 Impressive and inspiring thank you Sir.

[@HighMaintenancePS]

I met Wellsford designs quite some years ago. But you are the first person to show me just what they can do. 🙏🏻

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thank you for your comments. My true greatness is only ever measured by my children’s happiness in this world. Stay Salty. 👍🏾⚓️

[@rossbarnett3759]

That was fun to watch. The mighty Scamp sure does seem impressive must admit. Looks like you chose a good weather window for the trip. Experience. The current was good with you like that. I like the way you presented the video with no mucking around. Wish i could do that.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks Ross! We’re hoping to get over and visit you in NZ very soon. 👍🏾⚓️

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Fantastic! Well done on your salty voyage. Josh

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks Josh. 👍🏾⚓️

[@robreibel3491]

Can’t believe you sailed around Bruny. It’s such a small boat in a rugged part of Tasmania. Loved the video

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

thank you

[@scottastell9415]

Awesome adventure. I sail #407 a garage built Scamp. Made in Canberra by Bob Heacock in his late 80s. Love my ply Scamp. Cheers

[@jimminniehan2548]

Really great, thank you so much.

[@williamhanchett5555]

Wonderful to see how a fantastic small sailboat can do in the hands of an equally great sailor. After seeing this video, even more excited to see the plans for the new John Welsford Scallywag.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

thanks mate

[@garyandrews8053]

Cant believe how small that is, wonderful

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

small, but capable

[@chrisowen2703]

Brilliant, what an awesome boat! A really well produced video too, top marks.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

much appreciated

[@sailing_tassies_adventures]

Great sail and content, also good to see another Tassie YT channel!

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks mate. Stay Salty!

[@howardrice7280]

This is the "It" of SCAMP cruising. Nice.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks Howard…hopefully we can sail together soon! 👍🏾⚓️

[@afloatinawoodenboat]

She’s my favourite little boat ❤

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Ditto

[@svslowmotion6611]

Great adventure in a fun boat, nice work.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

thanks mate

[@MrBmoyer]

Do you realize how much all us other sailors love your accent? Great Video! Cheers!

[@timingersoll1257]

Fun as always...thanks for sharing!

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks Tim. All the best...

[@dandom71]

What a great trip and a great little boat. Sure beats staring at the TV on boxing day!

[@SailingBritaly]

Superb video Mat! I love the SCAMP design and you've shown her to be a very seaworthy little boat. Keep the videos coming! God bless & fair winds, Chris 👍

[@latesailor1350]

I’m so happy I found this channel. Fantastic, superb video!!! Excellent filming and beautiful scenery. Thank you for taking us along!!! I’m now a subscriber.

[@andreberezovskiy]

Very good travel!!! Very nice sailboat!!! Very professional captain!!!

[@davidkirk5074]

Great video production, an amazing little boat.

[@lauriev]

Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I felt seasick just watching south of Bruny! Used to own a Welsford Navigator that I sailed in the Derwent and Channel, very capable boat too.

[@Timcrumbdog]

SCAMP Amazing 11' 11" Seewordy Sailboat 😊

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

indded!

[@matthewhallcroft2759]

Awesome little dinghy ! Great seaworthy little boat

[@Brent_K]

Congratulations on a fun and safe cruise. I'm Tasmanian, and the wind has been so upredictable this year you chose your timing well. Great video!

[@RoxnDox]

What a great adventure! Watching from here in Gig Harbor, small world!!

[@bilal716]

Your channel is a goldmine, amazing content - and with all my favorite boats!

[@millarsexcavation6657]

A beautiful boat that ketch ❤

[@frankennis2947]

sailing is sailing. very simple but very enjoyable video. yep ive subscribed

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

thanks mate

[@jonathanlewis1352]

Happy New Year! Thanks for taking us along on your adventure. Great seeing the SCAMP put through her paces. She passes with flying colors.

[@davidwalsh7603]

So funny to watch, we live up near the Gold Coast but we were there along the coast of Bruny yesterday (home last night), We will have to do that voyage ourselves one day, great little video thanks mate

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Oh wow!

[@jmpersonal2402]

Ripping along... a great adventure in a sweet little rocket. The "Mighty Scamp" indeed...

[@tadroid3858]

Very cool little cruiser. Thanks!

[@benthrelkeld4929]

Thanks for creating a fun and informative video. Happy New Year!

[@juemuri5448]

fantastisch...gerade reisen mit kleinen booten sind besonders intensiv...nahezu alles erlebt man intensiver,,,direkter als mit grossen booten...viel spass und gute gesundheit...nennt man das segeln oder reiten ?...

[@darrylmcleman6456]

A 16 ft version of the Scamp would be great !!!

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Meet Scallywag... smallcraftadvisor.substack.com/p/boat-designs-evaluating-scamps-big

[@darrylmcleman6456]

@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx FINE BUSINESS!!!

[@gillesdufaux5519]

Very intimidating passage.

[@garrymartin6474]

She looks to be a fabulous boat, I can imagine all sorts of cruisers I could do in a Scamp.

[@Motoseaner]

I looked up the Friars on google earth and I gotta say that's a huge accomplishment to sail a scamp 12 through there. I have a gig harbor scamp and watching your video I could imagine what it would be like to be there. I was hoping you were gonna reef and then you did. Thanks for sharing.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

you're welcome

[@mankala8]

The wikipedia article for "gunkholing" has three Scamps in British Columbia. I laughed when I recognized them. :)

[@randywheating3137]

Great trip and video.

[@ShippingMagnet]

Cracking video and awesome content. Keep it coming mate. Used to sail a lot in my youth/middle age. Arthritis got the better of me. Greetings from the UK 🇬🇧 👍 You just got a new sub

[@Tyler-s7s]

Flippin cool dude! I want one!

[@aaronsellers1372]

Thank you for making these! Keep it up!

[@KlingonCaptain]

I really wish that I could find one of these here in the United States! It's probably the most perfect camping dinghy I've ever seen. It would be just right for the Texas 200 as well, which I hope to participate in someday. ⛵️ ⛺️

[@jj680l]

The SCAMP in this video is built by Gig Harbor Boat Works in the US.

[@KlingonCaptain]

@@jj680l Thank you very much. 😊

[@blossomwiedmeier6889]

Thank you, I have acquired one that I have wanted since I started following Josh at small craft advisor got the ball rolling w John Welsford. Luv this boat. Tks toGig Harbor Yachts.

[@DrDanTDC]

Excellent video! Loved it!!

[@1240enzo]

Well done on your circumnavigation of Bruny. The last time I did this it was on a Huon 36 with a friend of mine. Next time, it will be on my own boat, a Swanson 30. Slightly bigger than your little boat 😁. Back in the day, a very good but now elderly friend of mine, did the Mewstone race on his D class (Undine). Needless to say because of the horrid conditions down there, they made a somewhat hasty retreat to safer waters.

[@itsmedaveh5516]

Nice job!

[@harraikhalsa]

Well done!

[@karinbush1358]

My uncle sailed, no motor, his home built Huon clinker built Scottish fishing dory there. He lived just nth of the lighthouse. Used rocks from the shore for ballast and lost them once in a capsize.

[@anthonywoollcombe9767]

Excellent……maybe more info on how you setup for the night. Cheers Tony

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Stay tuned!

[@csquaredvisionsfpv8964]

This is fantastic!

[@adventuresinbasicreality219]

Lost on a Sunday night watching this man sail his Dinghy on deep waters 🎉

[@markraciborski4289]

At 10:30 mark, "The sea was angry that day, my friends - like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli," George Costanza

[@christopherstevenson9737]

Thanks for this excellent video and insight into the mighty SCAMP. Wondering a few things: How much motor fuel can it carry? How is it to sleep on ? Not too rolly-polly? Does it bounce & bobble in a hefty sea state (due to short length)? She handled making it through the passage in some rough water for sure!! Cheers. btw.. i sail a 22’ (LOA) Flicka 20 sailboat

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Hey mate. Answers...1. as much fuel as you would ever need. 2. Yes, very rolly polly. 3. Yes, lots of bobble & bounce. Love the Flicka...great boat and on my radar if one ever turns up down here.

[@SailingKateLouise]

Another great video, good to see the Scamp in tough conditions....Every video I watch you are in a different boat, just how many boats have you got???? cheers Paul

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Hey Paul. I'll never tell ;-)

[@chasingwind114]

You mentioned a future video of a heavily modified mirror dinghy, are you still going to do this video? I have a mirror that I’m setting up for cruising and I’d love to see it! Great video, and what amazing experience, I’d love to do some sailing in Tasmania!

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Yes. The mirror episode is coming! Thanks for the comment. 👍🏾⚓️

[@vudu5vudu]

New sub. The Scamp is a fantastic concept. Bit of a tent with a keel? Great vid thanks for your efforts. And yeah a bit balsy. =)

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks for watching!

[@cjod33]

Next challenge, a Manly junior around Bruny 😅.

[@bryanbadger6841]

Well done mate. Yeah usual story. Stumbled on your channel and subscribed and gave you a like. I see I've got some binge watching to do, to catch up too. Have you read Robert Manry's book "Tinkerbell" detailing his experience sailing, 13'6in Tinkerbell across the Atlantic. Great reading. Actually, I'm calling in from across the ditch here in Nz. Not that far away mate. The Tasman has been rowed and kayaked, but never sailed in a small craft. As far as I know. Btw, I believe there are plans available online to build Tinkerbell. Yes I'm thinking about it. Anyway, thanks for sharing. Looking forward to further adventures. All the very best, from across the ditch.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks for your comment. Yes, Manry's journey was incredible and there's been lots of other stories equally impressive. Do you know of Serge Testa? He circumnavigated the globe in a boat just 11'10" long! And Webb Chiles also gave it a good crack in an open dinghy while sleeping under a tarp. Webb still holds the record for the longest non-stop passage in an open boat: 3,245nm (further than what Manry achieved and he had a cabin!)...incredible. Stay Salty...

[@bryanbadger6841]

@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx yeah I'd forgotten about him. I don't have his book, but I see it's on Amazon. Also don't forget John C Riding of "Sea Egg" fame. Sadly at 12ft 6in, he was attempting to be (at the time) the smallest to circumnavigate the world. And disappeared between here and Sydney. So yes Sergio still has the record. All the very best.

[@ContextIQ]

Awesome vids. 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻

[@thomaswilliamloftus]

Great movie. Thanks for making it and love your content. I sail scamp #6 and share your feelings about what a great boat it is. I have noticed that it has trouble pointing on a starboard tack without a bleater to hold the boom against the mast. Have you experienced this? The difference in pointing ability and speed was dramatic for me. Would enjoy your thoughts on this. Staying salty in California.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Greetings fellow Salty Scamper! In order for any lug to point properly you must have a way of holding the boom (and yard) close to the mast - a bleater is one method. Stay Salty! Mat

[@scottsellick598]

What a great way to start the year (watching) as I walk the shore of Lake Superior (northern Ontario) watching the ice form and stretch out onto our 'inland sea'. Question: at some point could you give a quick view of the 'cover' you have. I've been emailing Falk and he spoke of a newish version and now I'm wondering whether what he was speak of . . . is what you've got. Looks elegant in its simplicity. Scott

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Hi Scott. Thanks fro your comment. We designed the tent and had it made by a local bloke. In a future episode I'll give a run-down on how it works et al. Stay Salty - Mat

[@mexico3459]

Boxing day is called that because everyone gets ride of their Christmas boxes and also unbox all their boxing day specials they buy

[@thomaswilliamloftus]

Oh btw, I think Boxing Day is literally about boxes. As in gifts in boxes. 😊

[@wakjagner]

Solid adventure. I think the Scamp is a remarkable craft. I too had been wondering about a mizzen sail for the Scamp. Have you done any more thinking on this?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Hey mate! Thanks for the comment. No, I won't put a mizzen on her. John has released the Scallywag design that has a mizzen and a small cabin with all the other SCAMP attributes. I like the simplicity of SEA DOG as she is.

[@wakjagner]

@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx interesting to hear about the Scallywag, though I imagine with that increased size it's got a bit more competition. Thanks for the info.

[@gregory1778]

​@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx can you point me at scallywag plans? I didn't find any info at Johns site.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

@@gregory1778 plans have not been released yet. Keep checking John's site (and the Scallywag FB Page) for updates.

[@crookedcrowcrafting]

Love the tent. Could you share some information on it? I'm currently using a camping tarp for my shelter and I would like to upgrade. Thanks, great video.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks mate. It’s a custom tent I designed and had a local guy stitch it up. Very well made and super functional. I can even sail with it up.

[@gerrit555]

Hi. Great video. One question: How about the handrails at the cabin top? Do you think they are really useful?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks. Yes, I use them a lot.

[@boathemian7694]

Cool boat. If you had battens it would resemble my lug rig

[@voornaam3191]

Do you know if the Junk Rig Association is still active? During the 90's they had figured out the battens to perfection. What pipes and what garden hose for flexible joints. Result? A full battened sail that performed great upwind. And that is NOT easy.

[@boathemian7694]

@@voornaam3191 JRA is thriving mate!

[@Stobb0]

Great trip and love the boat! Scamp is clearly a great design and ticks so many boxes but I am particularly impressed with the Gig Harbour ones: the self-draining cockpit is a huge safety feature (plus I can’t be bothered to build my own boat so it is a case of find a ply one for sale somehow or buy off the shelf from somewhere) Also, can you please tell me more about your dumb watch - is it an Apple watch or something else…? Looks very handy thing to have esp if it can do more than speed…?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks for the comment. It's an Apple Watch Ultra running the App called Waterspeed. Are you in Australia? Sea Dog may be for sale soon if you're in the market for a GH SCAMP.

[@Stobb0]

@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx thanks & regret, no - I am in Auckland & it would be prohibitively expensive to import (been there, done that 🙄)….

[@petreamccarthy8635]

Lovely video. Great trip. Curious how a Gig Harbor Scamp ended up in Tas...?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Hi Petrea! The previous owner imported her to Australia.

[@scottsellick598]

Oh, I've got a Gig Harbor SCAMP as well (number 250)

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

great dinks

[@andreliesemeier9566]

Excellent. Where can I buy my wayfarer to follow suit here in Australia. Is your vessel for sale? :)

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Yes

[@philgrizzlyadams]

EXCELLENT..:-)

[@dalesimonson]

Excellent video, Mat! Thanks for bringing us along. Question... what's that black stuff on your anchor chain? Just the ticket to reduce paint chipping, I imagine? Cheers, Dale

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks Dale. The black stuff is a polyester webbing tube that you should be able to find online easily enough. Google ‘anchor chain guard’. 👍🏾⚓️

[@Leighbuoy]

Great film and well done quite the achievement..Did you import your SCAMP directly from Gig Harbor

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

The previous owner did.

[@markjones3888]

Why its boxing day called so? In old days pressies were boxed. Rather than wrapped. People put boxes out for collection.

[@PaulStClair-or3gj]

YOU ARE WRONG. BOXING DAY WAS THE DAY AFTER XMAS DAY WHEN THE SERVANTS.. (WHO HAD WORKED XMAS DAY).. WERE GIVEN THEIR XMAS BOX PRESENTS. THIS WAS IN THE DAYS WHEN THE UPPER CLASS FAMILIES HAD SERVANTS. REGARDS. 😂😃😆

[@andypandy955]

What watch are you using for your speed. I have tried to find it on line no success Great video loved it.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Apple Watch Ultra with the Waterspeed App.

[@juemuri5448]

stelle dir das boot mal mit zug-druckpinne vor,,,dazu einen A-mast im heck mit frei arbeitendem segel an einem zum bug hin ausgerichteten baum...und festmachen immer mit der doppel-leine, welche man an bord einholen kann...

[@alanhamford2538]

Now you've had the scamp for a while if you were to order a new scamp would you include a mizzen next time round? (They seem to be popular on JW sailboats)

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

No, I wouldn't have a mizzen on a SCAMP unless it was a few feet longer perhaps.

[@danielkrawiec9859]

Beautiful cruising grounds down there. Fun vid. Thanks. You had the Scamp shipped from Gig Harbor? Must have cost half the boats worth to get her there?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks mate. The SCAMP was imported by the previous owner.

[@Ncfsailing2]

God I miss sailing

[@Leighbuoy]

How lucky were you...

[@davidwalsh7603]

Just worked out we were at Tinderbox on Boxing Day as well lol

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

that's funny!

[@michaelharris9955]

Bloody awesome mate. What app do you use on your watch for speed?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Waterspeed is the App…highly recommended! Thanks mate. 👍🏾⚓️

[@michaelharris9955]

@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx cheers for that. Loving ya videos, keep them coming!!

[@nigelholloway8938]

What is the watch and associated app that you use to display your speed please. Very nice watching your journey around Bruny.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks mate. I have an Apple Watch ULTRA and the app is Waterspeed.

[@nigelholloway8938]

Thanks Mat

[@reviewsandprojects]

Great video. I’m your first call if you ever want to sell your scamp. 😊

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

NFS ⚓️👍🏾

[@monostripezebras]

that is awesome

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Awesome place to sail!

[@craigbryant9779]

Very cool tent, is that a home built?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks mate. I designed it and had a local guy stitch it up for us. Very high quality and he did an excellent job.

[@lamtadatadatada]

great video, keen to do this trip myself one day! What camera are you using for your videos?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks mate. Just a GoPro Hero 9 with a headband. 👍🏾⚓️

[@davidhall6904]

Would you be in trouble if you had to put 3 reefs in?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Not necessarily. In fact that should get you out of trouble!