Passage Planning for Bass Strait. (Learning By Doing Ep217)

Today we show you our process for planning a sailing passage, in this case to cross the notorious Bass Strait. We are losing patience slowly, being stuck here in Eden for over 3 weeks now but are still cautious as Catamaran is still new and unproven to us.
Would you have gone?
I also find out that what I thought was a spider bite is in fact Shingles!
Thanks for watching.
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[@craigstenhouse679]

Hey Guys, Somebody else commented that they love the way you wind up each chapter rather than stringing along with cliff-hangers and I fully agree. I also really appreciate your video titles reflecting what's in the episode - rather than bullshit attention grabbers "You Won't Believe What Just Happened" etc. Great decision making re the Tassie trip.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks Craig. Appreciate the comment. Maybe we are a bit too honest, the algorithm probably would reward us with more views if we chose to add a bit more hype.

[@markdavies1021]

Thats a bugger you guys aren't visiting Tas. I was looking forward to seeing the new cat anchored up! Safe travels guys and fair winds.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Mate me too! Was so looking forward to Tassie for a long time but this time around it just doesn't make sense. I'd rather come another time, December till April and have a real look around.

[@rickpyne]

I am so sorry that you have missed your opportunity to sail to Tassie, maybe you could fly down for a week to show Marie. I am sure you both would enjoy the trip, it is well worth the effort. There would be plenty of people in Tassie that follow your Chanel and they would make you very welcome. Speak up Tasmanians and show your hospitality, as you have always shown me.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

No worries, Tassie will be there for us another time. We're enjoying our trip up the NSW coast now and looking forward to being in warmer weather soon.

[@earlashton1342]

Trust yourself & follow your heart.

[@SoundzAlive1]

Always best to guess that the weather will be much stronger than predicted.. See you in Sydney and I am a member of Cronulla Sailing Club. André in Sydney

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yeah there's that too, most say that around the Bass Strait the wind and waves are 30-40% stronger

[@sailinghalcyondaze6848]

Looks and sounds like shingles, I had the same 7 yrs ago!! All on one side, see a quack man😁

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yep it’s that. Got the drugs for 7 days and much better now.

[@seazenbones6945]

An excellent video. Warts and all real life on a live aboard yacht.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Glad you liked it mate.

[@calmauric8218]

I'm stuck in Flinders Island right now waiting for a weather window to make Eden! It's wild out there right now. Winds are way stronger than predicted.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Youre coming north when we were still staying to go south. I think you are doing the better thing for sure. Hope you get a window soon and maybe see you along the way.

[@meredithbayly8617]

Right move guys. Sorry to hear about the shingles but that made sure you weren’t in that shitty weather. The old ‘go with the flow’. Not to mention the cold! It’s been really hot on the hard stand at Hervey Bay. You’ll be in just the right place for doing your rigging I’m sure. Keep living the dream. 😄

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yep, most time things happen for a reason. The shingles havent been fun but who know what would have happened on that passage. Hope your boat jobs are going well.

[@jjcanico]

Hi there we did this trip last weekend we left Eden Sunday 02 we had a very good trip wind start SE rounding to SW 10,15 knt we had 3 sunny days we are at ST Helens now arrived here w 05 it's raining here today next stop will be wineglass bay. all the best for you guys.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Good to hear you had a nice run down, enjoy it.

[@kankama1]

Thanks for the video. We did the trip on our 38ft cat in mid December. Waited in Eden until a high passed overhead, motored to Gabo when the light easterly filled in which then built and turned noreast. Had a great sail through the night and later the next day entered St Helens. I liked St Helens - there are not many good anchorages on Tassie's east coast. Tassie was a disappointment for us. We have done 6 trips to the reef and love cruising, but the very changeable winds required me to stay much more tied to the boat than in Queensland. Everywhere we went were people who could get to the anchorage by other means, without the limitation of boat custodianship, and we were forever frustrated with the peaks, kilometres inland, that we couldn't access, vast areas of fabulous bushwalking. I think Tassie is a great place for hiking (we have visited many times and walked many of the great walks) but I don't think I will take the cat again. It was so vexing to sail and so hard to look at , for instance, the Haartz mountains from the Dentrecastreu and not be able to visit them properly. Take the car or the bike and get into the bush AND you can still visit everywhere a boat could get you to. A boat gives you no extra access to places of beauty in Tassie, whereas in Queensland you simply must have a good boat to see its islands and reef. WE even would prefer to cycle Flinders rather than take the boat again.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thats a really great comment Philip! I had been thinking along the same lines to be honest, even more so as the summer season changed over to colder and more volatile weather. We've been watching the weather down there daily now for weeks and it seems to change 3-4 times a day, often requiring you to move to the other side of a bay for safety. This doesn't give one any confidence to leave the boat for more than an hour or so. That really limits what you can do off the boat. We love exploring and this would be a major bummer.

[@robertashcroft9435]

Good call!

[@johnwalker6711]

Wise move heading North its cooling off fast down south now get well soon mate Fair Winds

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

yeah thats the thing, way less fun down in Tassie when its cold and volatile. There'll be another time.

[@loftiefleet8104]

m8 your the capitan,c your the boss.

[@davidbaddiley5878]

Hi guys team Popeye here. Such a shame you didn't make it down here. We've had relatively nice weather since our arrival, but sitting out a SW blow behind Rabbit Island, Dover. Hope to cross paths again soon. #sailingpopeye

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yeah pretty bummed to be missing it, but for sure another time

[@jacana25]

If there is one lesson I have learned, it is to never sail to a schedule. Pick a time OR a place, never both. I think you made the right call

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thats the way, we sail to weather windows mostly but seasons are still important to keep an eye.

[@rondejoux8006]

No need to apologise, we are glad you are feeling better. I have learnt everything happens for a reason, you just weren't supposed to go. Take care.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yep could be true.

[@sailingmarilynkaye]

Hi Vernon and Marie glad to see you have it all sorted. It looks great, looking forward to the trip south, take care.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks 👍

[@fraserduff-yv8tl]

Vern that would have been a terrible trip for you and Maree. The trip across the Bass Straight is notorious. I did it solo last year in Feb on Sailing Momentum, upload to youtube. It doesn’t suffer fools and Ive mistakenly been foolish down there before and got hammered. I came back in early May 2022 in a nice weather window, but had to wait 2 weeks to get it. Bermagui is lovely.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yeah, it would have been a shitty trip for sure and with our old standing rigging a not wise choice for sure. I'll check out your channel.

[@jonathanscott550]

This video was still a great video even though there was not any sailing cheers. And hope you are feeling better

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks, much better now

[@jonathanscott550]

Because the weather window isn't in your favor for Humboldt Tasmania, and you both decided to sail north, do you plan to go back to Indonesia, maybe the Philippines, then when opportunities favor you then sail south to Tasmania

[@Bob-jn1fx]

As soon as you took off your shirt I knew that was shingles funny how it presents difference in the back I just got over shingles I'm your age probably the stress of the new boat even if you don't feel stressed it's underlying b******* we'll do it Cheers

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Hi Bob. Yeah on my back it came a couple of days later than the front and lasted longer there too.

[@eltnot]

Great video regardless of the lack of sailing action. Love finding out about a new tool in the form of Windy and learning more.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Glad it was useful for you!

[@paul-fowler]

Love your channel. We are a couple both over 70 with a catamaran based in Sydney. We would be keen for a meet-up when you are in Cronulla.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Excellent! Best to follow on Instagram @vernondeck or Facebook: sailing learning by doing for real-time updates.

[@sailinghalcyondaze6848]

Should of watch the whole vid , ha

[@UUBrahman]

Appreciate the transparency on decision making, totally agree that if the running rigging goes then the standing rigging is suspect. The Tasman is Sailing a Serious Ocean, use the downtime to acquaint yourself with all the details of the newly acquired boat. Shingles is often stress induced - good to de-stress as healing takes months. Shingrix is a medication widely marketed to prevent Shingles.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks for the tips mate

[@belitungislandhomestay4759]

Thanks for another informative video Vernon and Marie. Good decision, Tassie is better in summer, especially now you have spent so much time in the tropics. Rest up, take it easy and don't get a relapse. Oh, and welcome to the Catamaran club, though mine is a little small to qualify.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

We agree! Sad to miss Tassie for sure but there'll be another time. Gotta say, we do miss the tropics and life on this cat will suit that for sure.

[@giterdunpete]

Nice work....Sorry for the Shingles episode.....See you on the Gold Coast

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

thanks mate

[@raydisilvestro5102]

Feel better soon! Nurse Marie will take great care of you! Cheers

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Indeed she does.

[@leo169]

Good to see you are better and all the best with the recovery Vernon, have had it also, as you said, not a lot of fun. Always interesting to see the process someone else goes through for passage planning and evaluating weather windows.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks 👍

[@ChildOfGod_012]

Safe travels! Hope you two are doing well!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thank you! You too!

[@davidlittle1480]

Hey Guys, if you get to the Spit Manly, would love to catch up, or we'll be heading to the Pittwater for Easter. Been following you for years now. Buy you fish and chips at the Skiff club (spit)!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Hi David. We'll be around Cronulla for the first couple of weeks in April then will spend some time around Sydney then up to Pittwater I guess. Fish and chips are my favourite, pizza is Marie's.

[@geoffthefarmer]

I'm originally from Tassie. I would suggest that you wait until next year and go earlier and make the most of the summer weather. Take it easy and get over Shingles first then head north and try again at the end of the year.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yeah exactly! Idea would be early January till April, this is what we had planned originally but with selling the boat then buying this one we just got behind schedule. All good, there's another time

[@nedfairlie1520]

Good decision guys Don’t discount the short trip down to Lake Entrance it’s an amazing set of Lakes to explore PS can’t wait until you guys visit us in NZ

[@hthring]

great video, love that you wind up all the different chapters rather than just stringing along with cliff hangers. we would catch up in sydney depending on date , weekend being best. my partner picked it as shingles when she first saw it. good decision turning around, better off getting there when you can make the most of it. maybe you can go skiiing in australia this winter ! im just starting and going to falls.

[@johnmajewski1065]

The Shingles most likely save you both from a bad trip over and when the Tasy cold sets in, it's not nice living on a boat. You answered your own question, as you said you both don't know the boat, yet. You know best, but it may take 8 months to a year for you both to get the confidence you need for challenging weather and seas. This is one time its practical to learn by doing slowly is best! - Regarding your running rigging segment, it's a shame, re my ropes in storage the offer is still open if you need some more. Nevertheless, a smart move to move north. I liked your PAID windy software tutorial., KEEP SAFE. SV Skoiern IV

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

I agree totally mate, would have been a rough trip that could have gone bad for us. Until the standing rigging is changed I wont feel good about being in horrible weather. We will be back up in your neighbourhood in a few weeks so we'll catch up and see if youve got anything we could use. Thanks so much and look forward to meeting up again.

[@johnmajewski1065]

@@SailingLearningByDoing Nice to catch up, give me a bell a few days before you are heading to Pittwater. Meanwhile, good luck with the re-rigging.

[@braddobson2060]

Sounds like you made the right decision. Hope you keep feeling better .

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks Brad, way better now.

[@geckocampersslideoncampers3579]

Thanks for the passage planning insight, we are learning and it really helps, more please 😊

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Awesome, glad to hear that.

[@WaterTrails]

Wow, the same thing happened to me last august, 2 days into the start of my cruise and I came down with shingles. I thought I was dieing of cancer or something. Returned to home port and went to dr. to find out what it was. By the time I was over it the season was over and the cruise was cancelled. Misery loves company so this was a good vid for me 👍

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Sorry to hear that mate, Shingles is a pretty harmless sounding illness but it’s an absolute bastard to have, as you know.

[@olecurmudgeon]

We always learn something from you two. Even about shingles. We shall look into windy too. Enjoy your month of boat projects. Looking forward to learning more. Bye for now. Maggie and Mac

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks guys.

[@julesmoto9022]

Good video guys and good decisions all round. Heading North myself on a 40 foot cat from Pittwater two weeks from today but by the time you get your rig done and a bit of sightseeing unfortunately we will be well ahead of you.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks, yeah things happen for a reason mostly. We'll be around the Sydney/pittwater area till late April I think. have a n ice trip north

[@dennispetherbridge1992]

Having suffered from it ....take your time to get over it...there is always another time. Unfamiliar boat yes another time...rest and get better. Afterall you are really the auto pilot. You have to be on your game if things go wrong!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yep, thats a conclusion we came to as well. Things happen for a reason mostly. Happy with the outcome and happy the Shingles is past its bad point.

[@greghall14]

Great video guys. Super glad you are on the mend.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

thanks!

[@seadog6351]

Shingles was the first thing I thought of when I saw your rash but then I thought maybe not as it has a reputation of being very painful. Well, obviously that played true. Very sorry to hear that that is what you have. The people I know who have had the least amount of trouble with it were the ones that were always prepared for an outbreak with everything they needed for relief. You'll have to spend a bit of extra time planning out your medicine chest. Take care.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

One of the more painful things I've ever dealt with to be honest.

[@matthewlutter3745]

Very sensible Vernon love your passage planning insights. For what it's worth as an ex cat owner and now back to monohull you are wise to be cautious. Plus if you are sick what's the point of putting the stress on Marie? Shingles like chicken pox when you are older can be really gnarly. Get well soon. Don't forget about Wilson's prom. Look up refuge cove. We are in Westernport Bay the other side of Phillip island. When you are better can sort out a mooring for you if you go to Yaringa Marina at top of Westernport. Safe travels

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks mate, sorta sad to be missing that neck of the woods this year but there's always another time. Better safe than sorry(or worse)

[@teebones4572]

Another wonderful episode (To the end), very informative regarding passage planning...Thank You..

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Glad it could be helpful.

[@rolybaker7770]

That shingles is bloody horrible, I only had a mild case. I read somewhere that cold sore lotion helped if you got it on early enough as I had some I smothered the blisters with it fortunately it did the job and only had 3-4 days of discomfort. love the channel mate happy traveling.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks Roly

[@stuartlennox66]

Nice to see how you do your planning, I have windy on my PC but only use it for local weather, only one way to find out how your boat will react and that is by going for it, not so much in rough seas but in something a tad choppy and yes it will take time to get to know the ins and outs do's and dont's of the cat but you will get there. As soon as you lifted your shirt up I thought Shingles, been there done that, but all in all a very informative video, stay safe.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yeah the plan would be to progress with the boat at a safe trajectory, learning as we go.

[@garthsykes7691]

Cripes Vern,that sounds nasty,hope all goes well and it settles down after the doctor visit.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yeah mate, not a fun few days but on the mend now.

[@waynelemmon3007]

Good to hear how you plan your passage. I really wondered why you were heading to Tassie at this time of year. Think you have made a much better choice in heading north. Some great towns to be seen as you head back up the south coast of NSW.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

We knew we were getting a bit late but sorta just hoped that there would be a longer summer than normal. All good though, we'll just go another year and be there 4 months earlier.

[@waynelemmon3007]

@@SailingLearningByDoing we live on the Limestone Coast in SA, it was a very short summer. We probably only get about 2 months of actual summer here, so thinking Tassie would get even less being further south.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

@@waynelemmon3007 Yeah I dont know. I grew up in the south Island, New Zealand and the summer there was quite long as I remember.

[@waynelemmon3007]

@@SailingLearningByDoing wow that's surprising. Anyway it will be much nicer heading north.

[@nigelcrunden]

hey nice insight in to your passage planning...good one! apart from showing your shingels..haha had it and it is not a good look.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks for watching!

[@sailingcitrinesunset4065]

Your rash looks like Shingles!!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

It was!

[@63rrit]

How did you do the boat passage Animation in the beginning of the Video?

[@kcted]

I would never set sail based on a date and eta. "Schedules kill sailors" PredictWind is indeed pricey, but I added it to my weather tools. I have Windy as well, so I can review both as a comparison.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

We never sail to dates, just weather windows.

[@johntebbetts4182]

Great video, good decision (obvious in retrospect). It would have been a good decision even without the shingles or the report from your friends. That was a sketchy forecast, even with the wind aft, given how accurate most forecasts are. Discretion is the better part of valor. Tasmania will be there in years to come. Glad you’re mending.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yep, thats right. We had sorta decided not to go anyway just from the forecast. As I said, in my old boat I would have gone but we just dont know this Cat well enough yet.

[@thecaptaincrayfish3873]

Enjoyed the forthrightness of your planning and decision making. Also agreed with the call that you made (for what its worth). All the best to you both.!

[@thecaptaincrayfish3873]

Also, have a look at Savvy Navvy for your planning. Lots of pros and cons but interesting how it plots for currents and wind. A short free trial is available. My biggest negative on it is weather doesn't project very far out but still...

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks mate. I actually have Savvy Navvy but sorta forgot about it. They gave me the full version while back to test. Have to check it out again.

[@Antipodean33]

I had the same type of rash on my arm on the inside of the elbow, red and individual little puss lumps. Mine was itchy as hell though with some burning but it wasn't anywhere near the size of yours. I was told it could be a white tail spider bite which we do get in this old house and area. I woke up with it and it took a good 2 weeks to settle down, which only settled down a few days back. I hope it's not one of those spider bites because I've seen some horror show side effects, where puss filled open wounds can appear months even years down the track from these bites, can appear anywhere on the body, not just the bite area, which also have a necrosis aspect with the wound.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Sounds horrible mate. Mine was shingles and has almost cleared up now.

[@cnc75adventures49]

I’d go to the doctor always better safe than sorry Tasmania is not going anywhere👍👍

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Youre right, Tassie another year.

[@jocharris9709]

Sounds like Shingles

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yes indeed.

[@westcountry_sailing]

I always hope that KZbin's like yourselves don't feel the need to push the envelope to keep subscribers happy. I thought this was an excellent video and a good choice. Take your time to build your confidence in a new kind of sailing, we're here to watch you both win. Shingles (herpes zoster) sits in your dorsal root ganglion (spinal nerve) waiting to hit you when you're low/stressed/ill. Here's to eating well and recovering deeply.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

I totally agree! I often pushed my last boat but only as I enjoyed it myself. I'll probably push the cat too but only when I've got much more feeling for it than now. Everyone says Shingles breaks out when youre stressed but I dont feel more stressed than normal.Who knows.

[@oceanslarge]

looks like shingles, bought on by stress ?

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yes shingles, stress, who know? I dont feel stressed.

[@FavourDavid-d4x]

I finally got rid of genital herpes completely, My doctor confirmed it after a test. I remember living with that horrible stigma for years. For years I felt the same way you describe in our interview and I heard people share testimonies about how they used his medication and how it their life and the experience of getting through it. This gave me the slight hope I needed to hear. I'm glad there are people like you, Dr. Igho, who simply want to help other people struggling with the same problems. Your medication worked like magic on me.😢

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Nope, I think it just moved up to your brain