Australians cross Bass Strait on paddleboards in 'world first'

Updated

Australians Zeb Walsh and Brad Gaul have crossed Bass Strait on paddleboards in what they believe to be a world first.

The duo, along with American Jack Bark, left Wilsons Promontory in Victoria on February 25 and arrived at Cape Portland in Tasmania's north-east about 6:00pm on Tuesday.

The 300-kilometre journey required paddling legs of up to 70 kilometres a day, often hampered by Bass Strait's notorious weather conditions.

Walsh says it was an amazing experience and he is relieved, but tired.

"We copped a lot of head winds, the winds weren't as favourable as we thought they were going to be," he said.

"It was like a constant race every day just to try and beat the tides so it's definitely lived up to its name as a gnarly piece of water."

They have tackled rough seas paddling up to 70 kilometres a day, switching between kneeling and lying on the boards.

"...it's definitely lived up to its name as a gnarly piece of water." Bass Strait paddleboarder Zeb Walsh

"I've taken most of the skin off my knees though, so that's not feeling awesome," he said.

"Paddling in the head winds, your hamstrings really tighten up, so when it gets too much you lay down and paddle."

"But then your traps and your neck sort of get sore, so you've just got to keep mixing it up."

Favourable weather conditions helped them complete the final leg from Long Island, near Cape Barren yesterday.

The treacherous stretch of sea between Victoria and Tasmania is often crossed by ferries, sailing boats and even sea kayaks.

All three men have experience in major paddleboarding events in Hawaii.

They said they took advice on the Bass Strait attempt from a Sydney-to-Hobart sailor.

The event, dubbed "A Date with the Strait" and promoted mainly via their Facebook page, was partly aimed at raising awareness of environmental issues, they said.

However, they admitted adventure was a part of the equation.

Before setting out, Walsh - already a world title holder in the sport, after paddling between Oahu and Molokai across Hawaii's fabled "channel of bones" - said he was keen to test himself.

"I think everyone, the human race, you're always trying to better something," said Walsh, who trains in Torquay, on Victoria's Surf Coast.

"Our thing is, we're trying to do bigger and better paddles."

Gaul, meantime, had raced in Hawaii three times, which he said would be good preparation for the Bass Strait challenge.

"It's something where you've got to have a level of fear, a little respect for the ocean," he said.

"But that fuels the challenge."

Topics: extreme-sports, environment, environment-education, cape-portland-7264, tas, vic, australia

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