Foreign Affair departs

by Terry Travers, Foreign Affair on 20 Feb 2004 With media obligations delaying departure by half an hour, Foreign Affair, Bill Brosnan’s Chamberlin 47 power catamaran, departed Brisbane’s Manly Boat Harbour at 10.30am EST bound non-stop for Hobart.

The crew of four, which includes Antarctic adventurer Robin Chamberlin who designed Foreign Affair, have accepted the eco-marine challenge, a concept created to encourage environmentally-responsible pleasure boating.

The voyage to Hobart of 1060 nautical miles is expected to take just three days and use less than 1.8 litres of fuel per nautical mile, setting a new standard in efficiency combining time, distance and low fuel consumption with minimal power input.

Multihull Yacht Club of Queensland Commodore Dudley Young certified fuel load and trip log prior to departure. Final readings will be certified again when the boat reaches the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in Hobart.

At present Foreign Affair is making 18 knots across Moreton Bay in fine weather and a helpful 10-12 knot North easterly breeze, bound for the Southport Seaway and access to the open ocean.

Skipper Bill Brosnan said he expects to pass through the Seaway at approximately 1.00pm EST. ‘It’s good to be leaving Brisbane and heading south,’ said Brosnan. They’re forecasting 41 degrees on Saturday!’

Favourable tail winds and kindly seas are anticipated for the first day but the crew is keeping an eye on a Low approaching Tasmania with a cold front expected to extend up the NSW coast late tomorrow as the boat approaches Jervis Bay south of Sydney. Heavier conditions from the associated sea and wind change will slow the progress.

After punching through the tail of the front the crew expects to again have favourable conditions for crossing notorious Bass Strait and racing for Hobart before the arrival of the next cold front.

Designer, Chamberlin, spent this morning before departure, and again once underway, checking all the systems on board looking for any sources of potential trouble that would hinder the non-stop voyage or compromise safety. He has declared all systems go. ‘After all the preparations it feels good to be finally underway with this exciting project,’ said Chamberlin.

Further updates will be released en route and posted on the web site.

For all information go to: www.icecat.com.au