South passage bar crossing

[bf90]

upon arrival at the bar yesterday morning at 0500 it was like queen st during the day as I have never seen so many boats waiting to cross. I just made my way through the group of boats as all in my boat coud see the way through the washing machine slop, there were 7 boats ahead of me that decided to go for and and make the crossing but the silly thing is once we were actually half way across the bar it was getting fairly lumpy and one could see some half decent rollers coming our way 4 of the seven boats in front of me just stopped right in the middle of the bar, due to panic I would take it so that left me and 2 other boats and we went straight out through the slop and just two rollers to contend with during the crossing the rufis would have been about 50 m to the south of us my point here is why the other boats even thought about trying to get outside if they thought it may have been too rough for them to contend with and as for just stoping in the middle of the bar that is just asking for some serious trouble to happen. As far as the fishing went we ended up with 7 snaps 2 perls 1 finger 4 parrot the water outside was nice for the day, the trip home across the bay to Raby bay ramp at 1500 was a slog, cheers.

[Bull]

I went out through the northern channel and it to was a bit sloppy. I followed 2 boats out my problem was I would have liked to go a bit quicker. I couldn't fault the way the other guys crossed the bar just different speeds for different boats I guess. I should of given the guys in front of me more time to get through before I went through.
cheers Bull

[Captain Seaweed]

The Amity channel is a good one, I prefer to come home this way as its nice and scenic. I cant believe the rufus isnt marked to be honest.

[wags on the water]

I did a bar crossing course with Bill Corten 5 years ago and recently spoke with him about a refresher. Even though is wasn't needed I decided to brush up on my skills under his guidance. In my opinion it is money well spent and vital information gathered and stored (in my head space....somewhere....). Following someone else out, not having a clue what you are doing yourself, will not only result in 1 drama but possible 2 or more depending on how many follow the leader. Sometimes you need to stop/slow down between the sets, and I've done it crossing the Jumpinpin bar, to assess the situation. If someone follows you closely it then becomes a dangerous situation.

Now for my 2c - If you will be crossing any bar regularly and you haven't done Bill's course because you can't afford it or don't have time to do it - then how much do you value your own life or your crew's life when shit hits the fan in the middle of a crossing.

See you on the water,
Wags

[thelump]

upon arrival at the bar yesterday morning at 0500 it was like queen st during the day as I have never seen so many boats waiting to cross. I just made my way through the group of boats as all in my boat coud see the way through the washing machine slop, there were 7 boats ahead of me that decided to go for and and make the crossing but the silly thing is once we were actually half way across the bar it was getting fairly lumpy and one could see some half decent rollers coming our way 4 of the seven boats in front of me just stopped right in the middle of the bar, due to panic I would take it so that left me and 2 other boats and we went straight out through the slop and just two rollers to contend with during the crossing the rufis would have been about 50 m to the south of us my point here is why the other boats even thought about trying to get outside if they thought it may have been too rough for them to contend with and as for just stoping in the middle of the bar that is just asking for some serious trouble to happen. As far as the fishing went we ended up with 7 snaps 2 perls 1 finger 4 parrot the water outside was nice for the day, the trip home across the bay to Raby bay ramp at 1500 was a slog, cheers.

Mate I was probably one of those boats stopped but wouldn't say I was in the middle of the bar. I was stopped just before the whitewater in the washing machine assessing whether it was worth crossing there or not. There were no waves breaking where I was. There was probably 6 or 7 boats behind me and a couple went shooting past flying through the area I was crawling through, then the rest followed. I watched most of them get through because they were in my club. I decided to turn around and go the northern end as I was heading that way to fish. Were you following or perhaps in the Tournament?

[tropicrows]

Doing bill course was the best money on "boating" I have ever spent.
Been thru the SPB many times now but I never take it for granted every crossing is different. Been out with Wags thru Jumpinpin and SPB and yes sometimes you need to stop or slowdown, so leave plenty of room between boats.

[Horse]

I was about 30 mins behind the lump and did exactly the same. I stopped about 1/2 way out where it was safe to stop to get a good feel for things and did not like what I saw. I turned around and slogged up to the northern channel. To me its not worth the risk for a few minutes extra run.

[Captain Seaweed]

I went out the bar 3 weeks ago in the northern channel and instead of cutting North between back and front banks we followed it out in a ENE direction into clear water, is this what was happening??? Was there no predominant break between front and back banks? I am finding it hard to follow....what direction was the swell?

[rosco1974]

was a fair bit of east in the swell marty.i went the northern channel punched through there doing around 20knts,bit lumpy but the kc eats the chop up on the bar.was standing up a bit but no breakers when we went through bout 5.15
cheers rosco

[bf90]

mate I was following and when the 4 odd boats stopped to look around or assess the situation I passed you guys on your left, i was in a half cab tinnie running a honda, the other boat that went to your right was a half cab glass once I commit myself to cross the bar, having watched the sets ect before hand I go and I will not stop till I get over the bar as more often than not a rogue wave just pops up from out of no where for the kill so to speak when I was coming onto the bar I seen 4 boats turn around and head back well before the washing machine water as I call it. I love the word tournament too, haha there is no way I was going to stop there even if I was the only one going over I hope I have not offended anyone as it was not my idea at all cheers.

[thelump]

was a fair bit of east in the swell marty.i went the northern channel punched through there doing around 20knts,bit lumpy but the kc eats the chop up on the bar.was standing up a bit but no breakers when we went through bout 5.15
cheers rosco

I did see that cat of yours with a little bit of air under it Rosco. Looked pretty awesome from where we were!

[rosco1974]

ok maybe just a little bit mate but we didn't land too hard.lol..think i only had the props out the water once on the shingles.least you got to see the whole boat than macca...did a good job on the antifoul hey.lol.

[thelump]

mate I was following and when the 4 odd boats stopped to look around or assess the situation I passed you guys on your left, i was in a half cab tinnie running a honda, the other boat that went to your right was a half cab glass once I commit myself to cross the bar, having watched the sets ect before hand I go and I will not stop till I get over the bar as more often than not a rogue wave just pops up from out of no where for the kill so to speak when I was coming onto the bar I seen 4 boats turn around and head back well before the washing machine water as I call it. I love the word tournament too, haha there is no way I was going to stop there even if I was the only one going over I hope I have not offended anyone as it was not my idea at all cheers.

No offence taken just letting you know what I was up to. The tournament thing i referred to was a tournament boat (Used to be mustang). I suppose if there weren't 10 boats trying to cross at the same time it wouldnt have mattered where i stopped to take a look eh! I usually cross the amity and have done my fair share Of jumping and dodging going out through there but on Sunday I chose to go to the other end. Glad you got out safely and caught a feed.

[Jeremy]

I did a bar crossing course with Bill Corten 5 years ago and recently spoke with him about a refresher. Even though is wasn't needed I decided to brush up on my skills under his guidance. In my opinion it is money well spent and vital information gathered and stored (in my head space....somewhere....). Following someone else out, not having a clue what you are doing yourself, will not only result in 1 drama but possible 2 or more depending on how many follow the leader. Sometimes you need to stop/slow down between the sets, and I've done it crossing the Jumpinpin bar, to assess the situation. If someone follows you closely it then becomes a dangerous situation.

Now for my 2c - If you will be crossing any bar regularly and you haven't done Bill's course because you can't afford it or don't have time to do it - then how much do you value your own life or your crew's life when shit hits the fan in the middle of a crossing.

See you on the water,
Wags

Just because you have done his course doesn't make it compulsory mate. More than one way to learn to cross a bar.

[wags on the water]

Just because you have done his course doesn't make it compulsory mate. More than one way to learn to cross a bar.

I'm sorry mate but where did I say it was compulsory? There are terms of IN MY OPINION and MY 2C. Here's one for ya Jeremy - Assumptions cause f***ups. It's comments like yours that really sh!t me ---> IN MY OPINION.