Eco-Marine 500 Trial

The course and progess.

Follow the voyage of the Boat "Foreign Affair" as it travels non-stop from Brisbane to Hobart, a journey length of about 1020 nautical miles.

Click on the map to view daily positions.

Click to view daily positions.

The trip is due to commence, possibly as soon as Thursday 19th February, from Brisbane (Wynnum Manly) arriving at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania by the weekend.

The team is waiting for the low pressure system currently near Western Australia to move closer to Tasmania so that the effect of it will not be too great as they cross Bass Strait.

Daily plots and voyage progress will be placed on this page.

News Releases

25 Feb 2004

Arrive Hobart

23 Feb 2004

Depart Jervis Bay

21 Feb 2004

Respite in Jervis Bay

The calm waters of Jervis Bay provides the tired crew of Foreign Affair with a chance to rest up before starting the second half of the journey south. On present indications a Monday departure from Jervis Bay appears the most likely. Strong wind warnings and gales are still forecast for Tasmanian coastal waters.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecast for NSW South Coastal Waters from Ulladulla to Gabo Island and 60nm seaward issued at 4:45am on Saturday the 21st of February 2004 reads:
Saturday until midnight: Wind: S/SW 20/25 knots, reaching 25/30 knots south of Moruya Heads, easing and tending E/SE 15/20 knots in early afternoon and then tending E/NE 10/15 knots in the evening. Sea: 2 to 3 metres abating to 1 metre in the evening. Swell: S 2 to 3 metres.
Sunday: Wind: SW/SE 15/20 knots Sea: 1 to 2 metres. Swell: S 2 metres.

To date the average speed has been a very good 14.73 knots from Brisbane to the entrance of Jervis Bay, an excellent cruising speed considering the southerly conditions that prevailed.

20 Feb 2004
2045 hours. Position 30 miles NE of Jervis Bay.

Shelter sought in Jervis Bay

Very uncomfortable sea conditions with the southerly winds have forced the Foreign Affair crew to temporarily seek shelter in Jervis Bay. Terry reported by phone that the voyage will continue when wind and sea conditions ease. Tasmania is currently experiencing gale conditions for all coastal waters with storm force winds (greater than 48 knots) over southern waters and conditions in Bass Strait for their crossing would be very rough at least for another day or so.

Foreign Affair expects to be in the shelter of Jervis Bay by midnight at their present speed of 14 knots.

The economy trial will resume as soon as weather conditions ease sufficiently for the passage across Bass Strait and for Tasmanian waters.

19 Feb 2004
2130 hours EST Position 30 06 S latitude, 153 30 E longtitude.

After travelling at speeds up to 22.9 knots with a northerly wind of 20 knots during the first part of the trip, conditions changed earlier than expected so that Foreign Affair is now punching into a southerly of 20 to 25 knots. This has slowed the speeds considerably. Terry reported that spray was continually being thrown over the launch and the lumpy sea would make the first night's sleep for the off-watch crew uncomfortable.

19 Feb 2004
1030 hours EST.