Hello Nick

Rule ONE – Make sure you do not need to be rescued.
Rule Two – Do not endanger other people’s lives.

Melbourne to Brisbane may at first seem an easy thing to do, like what a speedboat fellow once said years ago, “just keep Australia on your left.”

But the truth is there can be any number of events that can put a vessel and her crew in mortal danger.
Let’s look at what you have.
Firstly, you state you are inexperienced, piloting a vessel new and unfamiliar to yourself.
That alone has us wondering –
Is there adequate safety gear on board?
Is the gear up to the challenges of the voyage? Big winds can strike anytime on that run plus you’ll be bucking a strong south running current, making good runs hard to achieve. And at only 30 foot, she might be slow.

So, it is impossible for us to predict how long that voyage will take. But, to give an example, last December we sailed out of Ballina, which is near Brisbane, on a vessel we’ve known for over forty years, the current with us, and made Eden in four jumps, all of them over-nighters, one lasting three days. Given rest stops and breaks for weather ate up another two weeks On that voyage, we suffered equipment breakage that had us stranded for another month. All up it took two months to reach Tasmania.

If we can be more helpful, send details of the vessel, it’s gear, (usually supplied when making a purchase) and a rundown of your blue water experience. How many on board? Have you had the vessel surveyed? Hope this helps.
Jack,