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  • Event date: 16/12/2021
  • Event end: 20/12/2021
  • When: OCT-DEC

Southport to Sydney / 383 Nm / 4 Days / CAT 2 Coastal Passage

The coastal passage from Southport on Queensland’s Gold Coast to Sydney in New South Wales is a great coastal passage for building sea miles, confidence and experience. You’ll help sail the yacht to Sydney in preparation for our entry in the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starting on Boxing Day.

We’ll depart Southport and head south-east to Cape Byron, the easternmost point of Australia, before altering course for Sydney. This 2 – 3-day sail south with the current behind us, is a challenging 383nm course with ships, reefs and islands to navigate past.

Southport to Sydney
Difficulty Level:
Medium
Price:

1950 $ AUD

Book on Ocean Gem 445

Southport to Sydney / 383 Nm / 16 – 20 Dec 2021

You can fly directly into Gold Coast or Brisbane on or before the 16th December in time to join us for a crew dinner ashore. On the morning of the 17th, we will complete safety training and familiarise you with the yacht before departing around midday for Sydney. Depending on wind direction and currents it should be about 2-3 days to sail to Sydney to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), host of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, where we should arrive by the 19th December. At the CYCA, the history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race is on display including the hulls of every race winner and all of the perpetual race trophies awarded each year. You should plan to fly out of Sydney at or after 5 pm on the 20th of November.

Here’s what you will experience onboard:

  • Hoisting, trimming and reefing both upwind (main, genoas, and jibs) and downwind sails (poled out headsails, spinnakers, gennakers and code 0’s (subject to weather).
  • Acting as watch captain (day and night), helming, navigating, checking the weather and monitoring AIS and radar and for both traffic and rain squalls.
  • Downloading and analysing the latest weather forecasts and calculating the best route to the destination.
  • Navigating, hazard identification, entering waypoints and calculating updated ETA’s.
  • Routine checks of bilges, engine, electrical systems, sails and hardware for preventative maintenance.
  • Watch roster planning, matching responsibility to experience, crew management and communication
  • Familiarisation of all safety procedures, sail planning, storm preparation planning and abandon ship procedures.
  • Training in the use of PDF’s (Personal Flotation Devices), PLB’s (Personal Locator Beacons), safety tethers, dan buoy’s, storm drogue, liferaft and any other equipment required to ensure you remain safe in all conditions.
  • Advice on how to take responsibility for managing clothing, hydration, sleep and nutrition to maintain your health and well being aboard.
  • Planning our arrival and route to safe harbour including timing with daylight (if required), weather factors, navigational hazards, communications/customs and sail/motor arrival plan.
  • Multi-day, offshore passage making 24/7 on a significant Category 1 offshore passage

Read the blog articles published by Lena Padukova after her 2019 Trans-Tasman on Ocean Gem.

Read our blog article of the Trans Tasman Crossing from Southport, Auckland to Opua & Auckland, New Zealand done on Ocean Gem in March 2019

Lord Howe Island information

Your crew package includes:

  • all meals onboard
  • crew meals ashore in Southport and Sydney
  • accommodation onboard
  • your Ocean Sailing Expeditions crew shirt
  • marina fees
  • the use of a PFD (personal floatation device), PLB (personal locator beacon), and a safety tether
  • your bedding, a pillow and towel is also included along with suncream.

Your crew package excludes:

  • accommodation ashore
  • flights and transport to and from departure and arrival ports and visas
  • alcohol
  • toiletries
  • clothing and wet weather gear

Its always recommended that you book flights with date flexibility in case of unforeseen changes due to weather or schedules. Accommodation options if you want to stay ashore either side of trip: AirBNB, Booking.com, Wotif & HomeAway.

Boats
Program

Southport to Sydney / 383 Nm / 16 – 20 Dec 2021

You can fly directly into Gold Coast or Brisbane on or before the 16th December in time to join us for a crew dinner ashore. On the morning of the 17th, we will complete safety training and familiarise you with the yacht before departing around midday for Sydney. Depending on wind direction and currents it should be about 2-3 days to sail to Sydney to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), host of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, where we should arrive by the 19th December. At the CYCA, the history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race is on display including the hulls of every race winner and all of the perpetual race trophies awarded each year. You should plan to fly out of Sydney at or after 5 pm on the 20th of November.

Tips

Here’s what you will experience onboard:

  • Hoisting, trimming and reefing both upwind (main, genoas, and jibs) and downwind sails (poled out headsails, spinnakers, gennakers and code 0’s (subject to weather).
  • Acting as watch captain (day and night), helming, navigating, checking the weather and monitoring AIS and radar and for both traffic and rain squalls.
  • Downloading and analysing the latest weather forecasts and calculating the best route to the destination.
  • Navigating, hazard identification, entering waypoints and calculating updated ETA’s.
  • Routine checks of bilges, engine, electrical systems, sails and hardware for preventative maintenance.
  • Watch roster planning, matching responsibility to experience, crew management and communication
  • Familiarisation of all safety procedures, sail planning, storm preparation planning and abandon ship procedures.
  • Training in the use of PDF’s (Personal Flotation Devices), PLB’s (Personal Locator Beacons), safety tethers, dan buoy’s, storm drogue, liferaft and any other equipment required to ensure you remain safe in all conditions.
  • Advice on how to take responsibility for managing clothing, hydration, sleep and nutrition to maintain your health and well being aboard.
  • Planning our arrival and route to safe harbour including timing with daylight (if required), weather factors, navigational hazards, communications/customs and sail/motor arrival plan.
  • Multi-day, offshore passage making 24/7 on a significant Category 1 offshore passage

Read the blog articles published by Lena Padukova after her 2019 Trans-Tasman on Ocean Gem.

Read our blog article of the Trans Tasman Crossing from Southport, Auckland to Opua & Auckland, New Zealand done on Ocean Gem in March 2019

Lord Howe Island information

Inclusions

Your crew package includes:

  • all meals onboard
  • crew meals ashore in Southport and Sydney
  • accommodation onboard
  • your Ocean Sailing Expeditions crew shirt
  • marina fees
  • the use of a PFD (personal floatation device), PLB (personal locator beacon), and a safety tether
  • your bedding, a pillow and towel is also included along with suncream.
Exclusions

Your crew package excludes:

  • accommodation ashore
  • flights and transport to and from departure and arrival ports and visas
  • alcohol
  • toiletries
  • clothing and wet weather gear

Its always recommended that you book flights with date flexibility in case of unforeseen changes due to weather or schedules. Accommodation options if you want to stay ashore either side of trip: AirBNB, Booking.com, Wotif & HomeAway.

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Our Guests Experiences

Alex Lomakin

I have learnt a lot over this time, be it regattas, twilight racing, ocean racing, delivery trips; it’s all been a fantastic time.

Testimonial Alex Lomakin
Guy Reeve

Sailing 800nm with David Hows on Ocean Gem from Southport to Lord Howe Island and Pittwater via Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs was an absolute blast and one of my all-time top trips, with conditions ranging from challenging to cruisy.

Testimonial Guy Reeve
Peter Chapman

Having done a little sailing many years ago, I jumped at the chance to crew on David Hows’ Ocean Gem in ‘Twilight’ and offshore races out of Southport Yacht Club.

Testimonial Peter Chapman
Kris Hook

I have completed more than 2,000nm of ocean passages as a crew member on Ocean Gem. In this time I’ve experienced a very committed skipper who always puts the safety of the crew and the boat at top of the list.

Testimonial Kris Hook
Joanne Harpur

Offshore sailing is not always fun, it can be cold, tiring, and unforgiving. Would I sail with David Hows on Ocean Gem again? Absolutely.

Testimonial Joanne Harpur
Kevin Holland

David is a true gentleman, a wonderful mentor and the type of person I aspire to be like. Nothing was a problem for him or the others. I never was made to feel bad for making mistakes and this provided an opportunity to improve, improvise and learn.

Testimonial Kevin Holland
Lena Padukova

On our recent Trans-Tasman passage from Auckland to Southport, David again proved he is a great skipper, very competent, skilful and high-performing, but also respectful and patient. His organisational skills are exemplary; nothing is left to chance. He’s a competent leader and a great guy.

Testimonial Lena Padukova
Mike Stone

Highlights for me were the great company, all the sailing experiences I could handle, the company of dolphins every day and the achievement of an adventure and ocean race, I have dreamed of often over the years and now realised.

Testimonial Mike Stone
April Seymour

David stays calm and totally patient with us taking the time to get the job done without adding any extra pressure or stress. I definitely learned a lot and the experience will make me a better skipper.

Testimonial April Seymour
Steve Tucker

As a skipper, a team mate and sailor David is exceptional. The environment he creates is relaxed and yet his competitiveness is infectious.

Mark Gallick

Sailing with David Hows was a great experience and made me realise – yes I do want to get another sailboat. David makes everyone feel “safe and comfortable”

Mark Gallick
Tim Wolff

Sailing on Ocean Gem is the highlight of my week. David’s passion and enthusiasm for sailing Ocean Gem is contagious and has had a positive impact on my life.

Tim Wolff Real Estate Agent
Ian Mackay

Ian Mackay about Benedikt Clauberg, skipper of Beneteau First 47.7 Kali “I wanted to thank you for a great sailing experience in the Round Barbados Race”

Christy MacLeod

Three words to describe my experience with Sail Race Crew: Experts, Education, Adventure! The foundation is a wonderful feeling of welcome and support.

Natasha Edwards

It was an experience of epic proportions. The support and encouragement by skipper David Hows was brilliant. There is something compelling about the ocean.

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