Bass Strait - Non-motorised Crossings

Non-motorised Crossings

Non-motorised crossings are regularly attempted across Bass Strait. After becoming the first person to successfully cross the Bass Strait non-stop in a sea kayak (2003), Andrew McAuley made two more successful crossings of the Bass Strait before he disappeared in the Tasman Sea in February 2007; his body was never recovered. Other experienced sea kayakers have since made the crossing, usually by island hopping on the eastern side of the strait. The first windsurfer crossing was in 1982 by Mark Paul and Les Tokolyi. Kitesurfers also do the crossing. Australian Olympic bronze medalist Michael Blackburn set a record in October 2005 when he crossed the strait in just over 13 hours in a Laser sailing dinghy. In 2009, to celebrate the first broadcast of their radio show in Tasmania, Hamish & Andy sailed a Tall Ship with gifts from the mainland through Bass Strait to Tasmania. In 2012 HMB Endeavour crossed from Portland (VIC) to Hobart (TAS).

Read more about this topic:  Bass Strait