Yesterday an ambitious crossing of Bass Strait, from Tasmania to Victoria by sea kayak, has been undertaken by a group of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel under the leadership of the Mates4Mates organisation.
While the organisation was set up to provide support to current and ex-ADF personnel and their families, this expedition – called “Brave The Crossing” – may entail some real risks to the participants, many of whom have never undertaken a voyage of this kind before.
Having departed Little Musselroe Bay yesterday, the group have estimated the crossing will take anywhere from 12 to 24 days depending on the weather. Currently making their way through the Furneaux Island group, the expedition will seek shelter until there is a sufficient break in weather for them to attempt the 330-kilometre open water crossing in the coming days.
Regardless of what happens from that point onwards, those on the journey are likely to be both physically and mentally taxed to their limits.
Speaking with Mark Thomas, spokesperson and participant in Brave The Crossing, Wild magazine recently discovered the aims and aspirations of the organisation behind the expedition, and what can be expected in the coming days as the expeditions makes its way towards Victoria. In particular, Thomas highlighted the fact that this kind of adventure-based training was becoming increasingly viewed as critical for rehabilitating servicemen and women following active duty.
“Mates4Mates was set up to provide psych support, rehab programs and support services,” Thomas said. “One of the services the facilitation of adventure-based challenges is to provide a huge challenge that seems impossible. Teaching the participants to break down these challenges into small achievable goals helps to overcome anxiety and stress associated with overwhelming situations.
“The challenges also come with some inherent risk and danger, but this is mitigated so that the perceived risk of the participant is higher than that of the actual risks involved in the conduct of the training. The real risk in any adventure-based challenge is always to a level that the leader can manage to ensure the safety of the participants is always the number one priority.”
It’s for these reasons that seasoned kayakers Michael Sheehan and Julian Smith are leading the expedition, ensuring the safe passage of the people involved despite the hardship they are likely to encounter in the process. Sheehan also recently led a Mates4Mates Sydney to Brisbane paddle that was covered in a recent ABC documentary.
While many of the participants are still considered relatively ‘green’ sea kayakers, Thomas stresses that they have been through a thorough vetting and training process to ensure they’re up to the challenge.
Thomas sends us this image from Trouser Point on Flinders Island (Day 3 of the expedition).
UPDATES
Tuesday 17 (Day 3) – Bad weather has forced the team to take shelter on Flinders Island, spending the day climbing Mount Strzelecki. Thomas reports: “Met some locals in Whitemark who were kind enough to make us a huge Irish stew for St. Patrick’s Day”.
Wednesday 18 (Day 4) – The group is currently making their way around Flinders Island as the weather continues to slow progress.
Tuesday 24 (Day 10) – The paddlers are currently at Killiecrankie on the north of Flinders Island waiting for the weather to clear before they can begin the most risky part of their journey across open water to Wilsons Promontory.
Monday 30 (Day 16) – The group has now set off from the north of Flinders Island and are currently making good time on their route towards Wilsons Prom. With luck and good weather they should reach the Victorian coast in several days’ time.
This story will continue to be updated as more information on the progress of the expedition becomes available. You can follow the expedition’s progress via regular updates from their GPS beacons online.