Rotto Advice
Submitted by Jackfrost80 on Thu, 2024-08-22 12:41
Hey all
Booked a weekend in Rotto next weekend Fri-Sun and so far on Fishranger it looks like it’ll be light winds off Hale Reef at around 5knots but up to 12knots SW at Rottnest with swell not available but looking like it’s dropping mid-week. We’ve only done the trip from Hillarys once before and I’d rather push into a SW wind than across it from Freo/Woodies.
Ideally, I’d like to take the boat (5m Seafarer V-Sea) from Hillarys but not if the family is going to be super uncomfortable heading over so only going to plan the boat if forecast conditions are fairly mint there and back.
Obviously once I’m across I am at the mercy of the weather so if it goes to shit from the forecast during our stay there should I just duck in behind the ferry on the return trip or get to Freo and travel up river to Maylands and retrieve from there?
Cheers JF
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Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Rob H
Posts: 5784
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Hillarys still cops the
Hillarys still cops the swell where from Freo you are mostly sheltered.
But following the ferry as long as you can keep up is the best option whichever destination, they do travel pretty quick
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Brock O
Posts: 3205
Date Joined: 11/01/08
I usually pack the boat,
I usually pack the boat, might take the daughter if not put them all on the ferry...kids club helps with the cost. Safer and easier for them and less stress for you. Freo would be the go although its a drive and parking cost is a prick.
I've got home in some reel crap conditions, once following the ferry and the other the police boat...its just luck with the timing and hanging on like fk!
scubafish
Posts: 959
Date Joined: 15/08/12
Windy
Windy.com
https://www.windy.com/
http://img.gg/BQ91Sys
Reefsta
Posts: 292
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Boat and ferry mix
A few years back I went over at this time of year in a 5.2m center console, as I wanted the boat for day trips while we stayed at Geordie Bay for a week. Packed fish and snorkelling gear, bikes, food etc in the boat, covered in a big tarp, and sent wife and kids on the ferry over and back. Had a mate drop me and the boat in the river, so the run was from Freo. Tried to follow the ferry for a while, but I tend to take it easy and cruise around 16 knots, so was not fast enough to stay close. I think the ferry runs at about 24 knots. Got lucky with the weather anyway, so it was easy, but figured I could just put the wet weather gear on and manage if it turned ugly on the run over or back.
davewillo
Posts: 2371
Date Joined: 08/09/16
I have also put the family
I have also put the family on the ferry when I had a trailer boat Frosty. Just less stress for everyone. Logistics are a pain but the run from Freo would be my preference if you can swing it.
PGFC member and lure tragic
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8122
Date Joined: 07/05/12
Cheers all, some great
Cheers all, some great suggestions in there. I'm hoping the swell drops to <1.5m as I'd be comfortable driving back to Hillarys in anything up to 15 knots. I whipped out Navionics when I was on the ferry from Hillarys to Rotto in good conditions and they pretty well stuck to 19 knots and I have the old man who could drive the trailer to Freo for me if required.
... the weather will likely change 27 times in the next 7 days in any case.
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Rob H
Posts: 5784
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Jump on this and you can see
Jump on this and you can see how fast they are travelling at various times, its live tracking
MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Mrlickalotopus
Posts: 109
Date Joined: 27/07/16
I've just installed AIS on my
I've just installed AIS on my boat as the misses worries at times where I am on solo runs and helps when I'm anchored out deep as ships can see my position and I can see them and their true heading on my charts plotter.
davewillo
Posts: 2371
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Needless to say Frosty an
Needless to say Frosty an auto-inflating PFD is a no-brainer. That was what my wife insisted upon with the first boat. At least I knew she wanted me around for a while!
PGFC member and lure tragic
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8122
Date Joined: 07/05/12
Yeah, nah. Ferry it is
Yeah, nah. Ferry it is
Officially off the Pies bandwagon