When planning to cross Bass Strait, we didn’t want to risk the weather turning bad half way across, so while this meant missing out on some of the sights around Flinders Island, we felt that when the opportunity presented, we should take it.
In this blog, we cross Bass Strait and make our way to the Yarra River in Melbourne. You can scroll through the entire blog, or click a link below to go to a specific section:
Relive video of our route
Trip summary
Prime Seal Island to Deal Island
- Left on 5 November
- Distance of 47NM taking about 6 hours
- Some very cute boats arrived at Deal Island during the afternoon
Deal Island to Waterloo Bay
- Left on 6 November
- Distance of 50NM taking nearly 7 hours
- With an outgoing tide, we left Deal Island to the north east and saw speeds of around 10.7 knots as we were passing Erith Island on our port side
Waterloo Bay to Waterloo (behind Bird Rock)
- Left on 11 November
- Distance of 32NM taking nearly 4 hours
- Walkerville is famous for its historic lime kilns and we could see the remains on the beach
Waterloo to Flinders
- Left on 12 November
- Distance of 59NM taking 7.5 hours
- While there was a bigger swell today, the time period between waves was close to 12 seconds and the result was a gentle motion as we rose over the waves
Flinders to Portsea
- Left on 13 November
- Distance of 32NM taking 4 hours
- As we approached the heads at Port Phillip Bay, it started raining hard and the winds/waves picked up and were beam on, meaning the roll was a bit unpleasant
Portsea to the beach near Port Melbourne
- Left on 15 November
- Distance of 34NM taking 4.5 hours
- Anchored at the beach between Princes Pier and one of the areas where ships are unloaded
- On the morning of 16 November it was very calm and with sun shining, I went for a kayak around Princes Pier
- Winds picked up late morning on 16 November and we noticed a number of small sailing boats being rescued
Port Melbourne to our marina berth 500m downstream from Yarra’s Edge Marina
- Left on 18 November
- Distance of 5NM taking less than 1 hour
- Staying here until mid February
Videos from our crossing
This video was taken during our Bass Strait crossing from Prime Seal Island to Deal Island.
This video was taken about 6pm on the day we arrived at Waterloo Bay. We’d left Deal Island and had an ordinary passage across Bass Strait but we were trying to get ahead of bad weather.
You’ll hear me comment on the wind and weed!
This video was taken on our third day at Waterloo Bay and we saw gusts of 86km/hour (about 46 knots).
The day before when it was a bit calmer, we moved further out from the beach.
We wouldn’t normally anchor with wind blowing us onshore but the actual wind direction was not what was forecast!
This video shows the calmer conditions on our 5th day at Waterloo Bay.
Forecasts were good to continue around Wilson’s Promontory on the following day.
This video was taken when we were rounding Wilson’s Promontory.
This is the third time we’ve been around the prom!
Our anchorages
Deal Island
Waterloo Bay just off Keijsers Beach
Walkerville
Flinders
Portsea
Beach near Port Melbourne
Our berth for the next 3 months
Photos during our crossing
I took these photos when we left Prime Seal Island and arrived at Deal Island. To see photos when we explored on Deal Island, check out my blog Bass Strait Foxtrot.
Where to next?
We loved Melbourne the last time we were here and are planning to stay for 3 months this time. So it’s some boat maintenance and improvements, as well as enjoying everything Melbourne has to offer!
10 Responses
Enjoyed reading this blog in the new format, Pam. Fantastic photos x
Happy New Year Rob& Pam
Love the new format & the rock formations are absolutely stunning. Enjoy your time in Melbourne
Lee
Lady capri
Loving the new Blog format, and of course all your adventures.
Another great adventure under your belts! Great stuff. New format is very readable and easy to navigate, esp the photos.
Happy 2025 to you both!
You guys are amazing adventurers! No hassles entering Port Phillip this time? You must have been nervous! Looks like you are in the same spot as the last time you were in Melbourne? See you in a month! Have the bubbles chilled! 😍 x P and D
Thank you for letting us be a part of your wonderful journey. Have a wonderful stay in Melbourne. Love Rob & Chicka
Great format, vidros make me quite queasy – how do you manage it?
Looking forward to catching up too.
P & D
Your crossings always look so smooth 😁
Wonderful.
Love the new format.
Xxx
Wow, do you ever get less-seasick I wonder? Some great sky photos, and rocks too. Good that you are safe and sound in Melbourne.