I hope I'm wrong, but...
I've been plotting the positions given by the Aerotrac data over the day on a more detailed map. The Aerotrac device hasn't given an updated time slice for well over an hour now. Although their website crashed earlier today, they seemed to fix things and updated time slices were coming regularly, certainly at less than 10 min intervals, usually every couple of minutes. Since early to mid afternoon, most readings were only at 1-3kmh in a NE direction. This would suggest that she is drifting. Up to about 11am she was doing around 30kph heading NNE, with a few near stationary readings. A NW would be a good beam reach.
Around midday she later started heading NNW. A SW wind change was forecast and the closest Bureau sites were showing 30kts-ish. There were a lot of what appeared to be drifting speeds probably downwind, with a few bursts of 20kmh, but not for long.
I fear she has been absolutely pummelled by the forecast gale force SW, which is neither favourable for strength nor direction.
Gary, as an Olympian I suspect she would have been comfortable on Formula gear.
As I said, I hope I'm wrong.......
PS: and the device may have been turned off. Device failure possible, but these things appear to be meant for "extreme" environments, ie the Tasman Sea crossing by kayak, Mt Everest climb
From www.aus911.com at 2:00 pm
"Bass Strait Crossing is progressing. As expected during the middle third of the crossing, they are in a communications 'dead zone'. Standing by for final third - should be back online soon. Stay tuned. Perfect weather is forecasted for the rest of the challenge. ETA late afternoon."
So hopefully she's still just out of coverage.
Formula gear has a very wide range of use, in terms of wind strength and angles that can be sailed. The formula one design sail she has, may not be the fastest, but it has on the fly adjustable downhaul and outhaul, so she is able to depower it very easily. She is using a 66cm fin, which is actually quite short compared to normal formula fins. She also has an intermediate reaching strap installed on the board, so she does not have to sail pedal to the metal in the outside strap all of the time.
Fingers crossed she should be finished anytime now.
Unfortunately she had to pull out (Channel 7 just then).
What a massive effort looking at the wind reading and swell...
Well done to her.
Just on the tv news here - she had to give up 3/4 of the way across. I missed the story but my wife caught a bit of it - tiredness and hypothermia mentioned. Extremely valiant effort nonetheless. Tough to match right gear for conditions expected on a trip like this when you have fronts coming through in these latitudes. Gutsy effort, sure she'll crack it sometime.
Awesome effort, Allison. Awesome.
As much as I can sitting in an air-conditioned office, I almost feel as though I've done part of the journey. Only without the wind, swell, muscle cramps, and general discomfort.
Damm fine Effort!!!!!!
How the hell do you mentally prepare for a days sailing like that!!!!
I would not have lasted 1 min in the cold water down there! !!!
I can understand the hypothermia kicking in aswell!!!
I get tiredness just from rigging up!
I did not know anything about Allison's attempt happening until i caught the early morning news! Maybe next attempt gets more coverage on TV and a bit more early warning for us!!!! Thumbs up to Allison on having a crack at this!!!!
Go Allison GO!!!
Good on her
Shame had to pull out, but huge respect, how the hell would you sail for that far, imagine the stresses on your legs
Bet most of Australia wouldn't understand how hard this would be
Some random skiier chick is only planning to go from Sydney heads to Newy and back waterskiing. That is nothing (distance or hardness i.e: just getting pulled along not doing anything other then what Alison is already doing via legs/balance etc) to what Alison did, let alone had planned.
Makes Nick Moloneys effort look even Greater.
Better luck with the weather next time ! sound like
too much S in the SW.
KUDOS for the effort though!!!
what a trooper! (on an aircraft carrier too!) 
i almost fell off the edge of my seat today............but that was because i was sitting too close to the edge. 
she's down at Kyeemagh often enough.
Well done Allison. Fantastic effort. Poor girl cant even walk at the mo. Did anyone see her interview on the Today show few minutes ago?
Well done once again Al, you have helped our sport risen to a higher profile.
The Morning Show coverage.. www.msn.com/en-us/Video/?mkt=en-au&brand=optus&tab=g1162336370000&page=34
5 hours of 30-35knots in open ocean water with f'ken huge kit.
That is one hell of a tough person.
Couldn't even comprehend sailing those conditions with comfortable kit for 1 hour
Supreme respect. Absolutely amazing
What an awesome effort 9.5m, 30-35 knts with a formula board - i was whingeing that my arms were tired using my 5.4 up iin a 25knt seabreeze yesterday arvo - I can officially call myself a wuss after reading about Alisons effort!
More flying than sailing I'd say with that gear and she was well and truly tired by then too. What a guts effort. She's not just a pretty face fer sure.
Tough luck, Allison, better luck next time and we will all be watching. You were beaten by the elements, not by a lack of will to succeed.
Awe inspiring stuff...and only just out of reach.
Well done Allison not only for guts and determination, but for having a go while others simply dream it...My hope is that she recovers and gets back out there to try again...I know we'll be cheering her on.
mick
Top effort Allison,
even though ~10 of the GPSTC crew have done the distances required to cross Bass Strait, I'm pretty sure we did not have to contend with the water state you encountered, or have to hold down such big gear.
What you achieved is quite impressive, I remember Nick Moloney told me he still rated this as his hardest physical challenge even though he has sailed solo non-stop around the world and nearly lost the lot.
All the best for your next attempt.
Hi All,
Please find some footage from the Bass Strait Challenge here, http://play.viostream.com/?play=98E3...029_flvlow.flv.
Unfortunately I had to end the challenge at the 125km mark after 9 hours due to severe muscle cramps, the onset of hypothermia and with so much fatigue, not being able to pull my sail up out of the swell to continue.
The forecast for the day was 20kts from NW, swinging to 25-30 W for a few hours then moderating to 20kts SW in the afternoon with a 1-2m swell. What we got was 20-25kts NW then 30-35kts W-SW for 6 hours straight with swells peaking over 4m at times. With such conditions it was very difficult to pickup the 9.5m sail to continue and found myself in the middle of Bass Strait for 4 hours trying to uphaul, waterstart and do anything I could to continue, in the end fatigue and cramping overtook and we had to abandon the challenge with the knowledge that if I would have continued I would have arrived in Inverloch 1-2 hours after dark.
I did however get to share my lunch break with about 50 dolfins that decided to ride the waves around me, an albatros and two seals, what an amazing adventure. I hope to try again in the future!
Please see www.bassstraitchallenge.com for more info, videos and photos and www.aus911.com. Thankyou to all my sponsors!www.aus911.com/index.php?id=5
Allison
