Tasmania 2004

Press release from The Trailer Sailer Association of South Australia

TSA fleet at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania

An armada of 18 yachts and 40 crew from Adelaide will hit the beach at Hobart on Sunday, February 22.

Armed with nothing more lethal than a love of sailing, a sense of humour and pockets loaded with money, the invaders have been planning the trip for almost a year.

The 18 trailerable yachts will arrive high and dry.

The armada will leave Adelaide on Friday February 20th in a tow to Melbourne, then cross Bass Strait via ferry to Devonport before being towed to Hobart for launch at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT).

The first week will be spent cruising the Derwent River and Frederick Henry Bay before re-provisioning in Hobart, sightseeing and participating in the life of the RYCT

Eight days will be spent cruising the D'entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island area, south east of Hobart

The fleet at Little Norfolk Bay. The Other Annie III at Mickeys Bay.

All 18 yachts pull out at Port Huon, at which point the trip splits - with some third of the fleet towing to Strahan on the west coast for a week's exploring Macquarie Harbour and the

 wilderness area of the Gordon River.

Another group are heading for the Freycinet Peninsular on the east coast, or to the Tamar River for about three days enroute back to Devonport and the trip back to Adelaide.

Few mainlanders will have arrived in Tasmania more knowledgeable than this group. A committee of four has spent the last 12 months plotting courses and planning for a safe, fun-filled invasion.

They’ve addressed such issues as safety requirements of yachts and trailers, weather conditions, tides, anchoring, maps/charts and insurance needs.

They have also talked with Police Communications and the Coast Guard and gained local knowledge from liaising with lots of people from the different Regions.