Sailing areas in Tasmania
Hobart and the D’Entrecasteaux Channel
Cold-water cruising of world class at the end of the Sydney to Hobart.
Launceston, the Tamar and the north coast
A tidal river with a bar, a 3 m range and Bass Strait on the doorstep.
Overview
Tasmania sits in the Roaring Forties, and its sailors are among the most weather-literate in Australia. Hobart's River Derwent widens into Storm Bay and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, a sheltered, tidal, island-strewn cruising ground between Bruny Island and the mainland where you can sail for weeks and anchor somewhere new every night. The east coast runs north past the Tasman Peninsula, Maria Island and the Freycinet Peninsula with its granite peaks; the north coast has the tidal Tamar River and the Bass Strait islands; and the south-west coast to Port Davey is one of the last true wilderness coastlines on earth. Fronts sweep through quickly, the water is cold, and the distances between shelter on the west and south coasts are long, so Tasmania rewards conservative planning and punishes complacency.
Hobart and the River Derwent
A deep, wide estuary with the city on its western bank, marinas at Sandy Bay, Bellerive and Kettering, and a strong club racing scene. The Derwent's afternoon sea breeze and sudden squalls off Mount Wellington make sail trim and reefing decisions lively.
D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island
The premier cruising ground: sheltered water, tidal streams that matter, dozens of anchorages, the Huon River and Recherche Bay at the southern end. Excellent for anchoring under sail, mooring pick-ups and short pilotage passages.
Storm Bay, the Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur
Open to the Southern Ocean, Storm Bay is where the Sydney to Hobart fleet meets its last challenge. The Tasman Peninsula's sea cliffs are among the highest in the southern hemisphere; Port Arthur and Nubeena offer shelter.
The east coast: Maria Island to Freycinet
Maria Island, Schouten Passage, Wineglass Bay, Coles Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula: spectacular granite coastline with anchorages that need careful selection against the swell. A favourite two-week cruise from Hobart.
The Tamar and the north coast
Launceston sits at the head of the tidal Tamar River, with George Town and Beauty Point near the mouth. The river bar and 3 m tidal range with strong streams make it the best tidal training river in the state. Devonport and Burnie are working ports on a coast exposed to Bass Strait.
The south-west: Port Davey and Macquarie Harbour
Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour are reached only by sea or on foot: no roads, no services, no phone signal. The passage from Hobart around South East Cape and along the south coast is a rite of passage for Tasmanian sailors. Further north, Macquarie Harbour is entered through the aptly named Hells Gates.
Conditions
| Tidal range | About 1 to 1.5 m around Hobart, up to 3 m in the Tamar with strong streams. Streams in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and around Bruny are noticeable and used in planning. |
|---|---|
| Prevailing winds | Westerlies and south-westerlies dominate, often strong. Summer brings sea breezes on the east coast and the Derwent. Fronts pass every few days in every season. |
| Signature weather | Rapid frontal changes, bullets off high ground, and sustained gales on the west and south coasts. Snow on the mountains is possible in any month. |
| Swell | Large Southern Ocean swell on the west and south coasts; the east coast is more sheltered but open to south-easterly swell. |
| Water | Cold all year; cold-water survival and clothing are part of every safety brief. |
Hazards to plan for
- Fast-moving fronts and gales
- Cold water
- Bullets off high ground in the Derwent and the channel
- Long distances without shelter on the west and south coasts
- The Tamar bar and streams
Seasons and calendar
Summer (December to March) is the cruising season, with long days and the Sydney to Hobart finish, the Launceston to Hobart race and, every second February, the Australian Wooden Boat Festival on Hobart's waterfront. Autumn is often calm and clear. Winter sailing is for the hardy, though the channel remains sailable. West and south coast passages are made only in carefully chosen windows.
| Months | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Dec | Sydney to Hobart and Launceston to Hobart finishes; the waterfront fills; summer sea breezes. |
| Jan to Mar | Cruising season in the channel and the east coast; the Wooden Boat Festival in February in odd-numbered years. |
| Apr to May | Calm, clear autumn days; often the best time for the south-west coast. |
| Jun to Nov | Winter and spring: fronts, gales, cold; sheltered sailing only for most; passages wait for windows. |
What training and exams are like here
Passages for the logbook
Distances below are approximate route ideas, not verified qualifying-passage measurements. Check the shortest navigable route, actual distance, non-stop passage and your role against the current RYA rules before claiming a passage.
| Passage | Miles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hobart to Recherche Bay via the Channel | 50 | Sheltered tidal pilotage the whole way. |
| Hobart to Coles Bay (Freycinet) | 80 | Qualifying passage over 60 miles around the Tasman Peninsula. |
| Hobart to Port Davey | 100 | Around South East Cape into the wilderness; a serious open-ocean leg. |
| Hobart to Flinders Island | 200 | Up the east coast into the Furneaux Group. |
| Hobart to Eden | 330 | The Bass Strait crossing to the mainland. |
| Hobart to Sydney | 630 | The delivery home after the race, or the race itself in reverse. |
Weather, tides and rescue services
Weather sources
- Bureau of Meteorology coastal waters forecasts: Far North West Coast, Central North Coast, Furneaux Islands, Upper East Coast, Lower East Coast, South East Coast, South West Coast, Central West Coast; Derwent Estuary and D’Entrecasteaux Channel local forecasts
- Bass Strait forecasts for crossings
- Snow and cold-water warnings apply in any season
Tide reference ports
- Hobart, Spring Bay (Triabunna), Low Head (Tamar), Devonport, Burnie and Lady Barron (Flinders Island)
Rescue and traffic services
- Tasmania Police Marine and Rescue with Coast Guard and volunteer flotillas at Hobart, Kettering, Dover, George Town, Devonport and the east coast
- TasPorts vessel traffic at Hobart, Bell Bay and Devonport
Boat licence rules in Tasmania
State licences cover the recreational use of a powered vessel. They are not sailing qualifications and they do not authorise commercial work, which is regulated nationally by AMSA. See working commercially.
Questions about Tasmania
Is Tasmania too cold for training?
No. Summer and autumn are pleasant, and cold-water seamanship is a valuable part of the education. Foul-weather gear and a good sleeping bag are not optional.