East Australian Current

[Yttrill]

Topic says all.. just had a report from a power boater going to Sanctuary Cove from Sydney it is running at 4 knots out to sea .. hope this isn't true, that's rather a lot of current to fight in a light wind or any head wind. Last time I was at Tacking Point (Port Macquarie) the current was running to about 200m offshore.

[Qldcruiser]

Sorry to say that every time I have sailed that part of the coast it was between 3 to 5 knots. So heading north your best bet is to hug the coast because it's like pulling on the handbrake.

Cheers

Rob & Annette

S/V Blue Lady

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by Qldcruiser' date='25 May 2010 - 10:30 AM

Sorry to say that every time I have sailed that part of the coast it was between 3 to 5 knots. So heading north your best bet is to hug the coast because it's like pulling on the handbrake.

Cheers

Rob & Annette

S/V Blue Lady

Hi Rob,

Here is a link to a service which includes 7 day data on the East Australian Ocean Current

CLICK

[Qldcruiser]

MM, I am pretty well up to speed with that piece of coast. We do one big offshore race per year and a number of smaller short races. and believe me that current can screw you whole race if you go to wide heading north. The escalator works well when heading to Hobart though which is why so of the racers head quite wide. It gives them a pretty big hand when dealing with the big fast maxi's.

[Yttrill]

Hmmm. I will need at least 20 knot southerly to make any progress at all. Surely don't want to be stuck near Port because I can't get in there. Also don't carry enough fuel to do too much motoring (300L). Guess I'll need to stock up on food and get some more jerry cans ..

[delatbabel]

The current is stronger in the summer and less strong in the winter. Making a winter transit from south to north gives you the advantage of less current as well as higher probability of southerlies. Just make sure you don't end up in a storm out there, there have been a few boats trashed going wide.

We did a run up the coast a few years back, hit 2-3 knots of current but with a 25kt southerly behind us most of the way up it was fine. Except when the guys ahead of us got bombed by a school of flying fish and had one stuck up inside the furling headsail, it had died there by the time they got to Southport and stunk the boat out.