Hi All,
Don't know if this is the right place to ask, but is anyone planning to sail from Melbourne to King Island or Vice Versa in the next few months who doesn't mind having a few extra passengers on board? My wife and I would like to go on a short sailing trip to see what that is like. We have no sailing experience to speak of, but we will do as we are told 
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Of course we will pay any expenses involved.
Regards,
Edwin
I would suggest do some day sailing in your local club first, I did the trip Melbourne- King Island - Tasmania and then later return.
Your suggestion is not a good first trip if it comes in rough, it would put you off sailing for life. 
Thanks for the suggestion. We have done some 1 day trips before, but only ever in good weather. I would assume that the trip would be postponed if the weather is too rough.
Do what Gizmo says and Do some trips in bad weather on the Bay in Melbourne.Its a slow way of traveling and you cant turn back halfway because of bad weather.
Once you have left the heads of Port Phillip Bay your out at sea with no turning back, you will leave the bay on an outgoing tide.
I was one of the crew on an S&S 34 and hit rough weather about 3 hrs out of the Bay....surfing down waves with just a storm jib doing 15 knots and other waves at times breaking over the stern. [I was sea sick for 48hrs and just wanted to die]
There are many coastal races in Victoria [or used to be] like Queenscliff - Port Fairy, Queenscliff - Portland etc., that would suit your needs either in the race or the return trip.
As a teenager I did several return trips from Portland to Melbourne and had a ball.
Is there a Crusing Yacht Club of Victoria? if so start there.
Now called Ocean Racing Club of Victoria.
www.orcv.org.au/
Sage advice there Gizmo.
[I was sea sick for 48hrs and just wanted to die] That doesn't sound like you mate.
Sounds like you made it back to shore and all is well now.
I spent many school holidays as a deck hand on cray boats and sailing in the Portland / Port Fairy area but that trip to Tassi was one out of the box....
I've found a cure to sea sickness..... "Hold onto a tree" 
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dont let it put you off sailing tho mate. Where are you located? As the Gippsland lakes has riviera nautic that rents yachts out to begginers.They give you a quick lesson and let you unleash.In winter they have reasonable rates.Should give it a go! edit- Bulls cruisers have a yacht aswell thats a bit cheaper.
I second Gippsland Lakes. We had a great family holiday there when I was about 12.
2 adults, 3 kids and blowup dingy crammed in home made 20fter for 2 weeks.
Best part: Finding natural spring that had been turned into a spa at Metung, doing my first 'watch' sailing across one of the lakes.
Worst Part: Rocking up and finding Landie had been broken into and roof racks stolen.
I think the idea of joining your closest or most suitable club , is a great way to learn sailing.
either racing as a crew member, or crewing for a new friend at the club on a day sail .
The racing does give you regular dates to do it , so you learn faster.
Well, I am sailing over 20 years Port Phil. Bay, I can see short overnight trip St. Kilda-Portsea or Geelong. Wandering through the Heads, we talking serious ocean sailing. My simple test 20+ knots across the bay, because seasick creew is trouble.
A few my friends completed basic and coastal with 'used to be Melbourne Sailing School St Kilda Marina' I believe it is now http://www.yachtmaster.com.au/sailHome.asp . we used to sail together and have to say, they are good. Don't know now, but 15 years ago, it was custom to get some coastal miles, to sail with the class to Wilsons Prom. /Ref. Cove /4 days return.
The biggest problem about sailing to King Island is that there is not many places to take shelter.
Grassy Harbour and Currie are both dodgy at the best of times, if you cannot make it in either of these places it is quite often a horrible trip across to the Hunter group where tidal flows and overfalls await.
Bass Strait can be anything you want, providing you read the weather right.
If you live in Melbourne and want "blue water" experience that relates to your enviroment then I would suggest coming to Hobart and hiring a yacht to do the "channel" with short bursts to Recherche Bay or across Storm Bay to Nubeena.
The Whitsundays is nothing like sailing in the southern region.
Cheers and good sailing.
Dusty
The biggest problem about sailing to King Island is that there is not many places to take shelter.
Hi Sands,
Not sure who charters out yachts at the moment, I will follow it up during the week.
From Hobart, Recherche Bay is 52 miles and Port Arthur is about the same.
Whether a charter company would let you go to Port Arthur is debatable, as it is true blue water stuff.
Once again if you areinterested I can make enquiries.
Of course another alternative that is often used here is to crew on a yacht that is doing these trips.
The Cruising Yacht Club of Tasmania members often take on these trips, plus going around to Port Davey on the West Coast.
Dusty
