Seaway rollover today - Thursday Dec 30

[James_V17L]

Excellent post Jay..

[Sportfish_5]

Well said Jay !

I have seen quite a few posts here telling newbies to head around the top of the cape before they try and venture out the South Passage Bar and do worry about that advice. Given the right conditions you will have no problems but I would say 7 out of 10 trips I do out there the conditions are far from that. The current really rips through there and with a good swell and wind/tide against you there is the making for tragedy for the inexperienced skipper with an ill-equipped boat in the short sharp swell and chop. Some of the boats I have seen at Hutchies at times make me shake my head in amazement. I am not sure if it is bravado or what but to me it is just stupid and not only puts the skipper and crew in danger but also endangers the lives of VMR staff unnecessarily.

A skipper making a decision to turn back is great to see if the conditions dont suit - good onya for that Jay !

As my old says to me - Dont matter how bigger boat you have there aint no such thing as a big boat in the deep blue.

Cheers

Greg

[James_V17L]

As much as I love the sea,it still scares the hell out of me.
Great posts guys.

[jeffo]

for the newbies i would recommend mooloolaba for their first few offshore trips. after going through the sea way for the first time on the weekend i would say its a fairly safe bar (with out swell of course )