Young kayakers conquer Bass Strait in 13 days – Matt Taubman, Edward Hosken, Ben Taylor, Tim Taylor and Jono Hargreaves

Five Sydney mates have endured howling winds, blistered hands and feet in an epic crossing of Bass Strait. Here’s what drove them to do it.

A group of five Sydney mates have finished their gruelling 13-day kayak crossing of Bass Strait. They island hopped and finished the treacherous crossing at Little Musselroe Bay in Tasmania's North-East on Friday raising funds for the Black Dog Institute. Picture Supplied.

“All done.” A group of five determined kayakers uttered the words after finishing a gruelling crossing of treacherous Bass Strait – battling pain from blistered hands and numb feet – in memory of the young mate they lost to suicide.

Matt Taubman, 19, said there were times during the 13-day crossing, which ended at Little Musselroe Bay on Friday afternoon, when each of the kayakers had struggled to keep going.

But memories of their mate, who died when he was just 17, and raising money for theBlack Dog Institute kept them going.

“It was scary, you don’t know what to expect because Bass Strait is infamous for being volatile,” Mr Taubman said.

Bass Strait kayakers front Matt Taubman and from left Tim Taylor, Edward Hosken, Jono Hargreaves and Ben Taylor. Picture Supplied.

“You’re so far from land and it is just you and the boat and the ocean.

“It is mentally challenging, everyone was in a lot of pain.

“You are wet, salty and have blistered hands and numb feet. I had skin falling off my hands.

“You can see an island but it might be 40km away and you are hours away from it.”

Mr Taubman said the crew were challenged by unpredictable weather conditions.

“On the first day we were running blind and you are on the water for 10 to 12 hours,” he said.

“The weather was good, only 13km/h wind and then it changes and we are in 50km/h wind.”

The crew, from Sydney’s northern beaches, left Port Welshpool in Victoria on December 30 and had food for three weeks in the event of bad weather.

Storms forced them to shelter throughout the trip.

Their aim was to raise $32,000, or $100 for every kilometre covered crossing Bass Strait, but Mr Taubman said they had so far raised $40,000.

“It’s just amazing and money is still coming in because some people say they’d wait to see whether we finished before donating,” he said.

“We will leave the donation link up and hopefully it will continue to grow.”

The crew of Mr Taubman, Edward Hosken, Ben Taylor, Tim Taylor and Jono Hargreaves are considering another action packed fundraiser to honour their friend who died in 2020 and had an adventurous spirit and giving nature.

To donate, go to: https://www.teamblackdog.org.au/fundraisers/StraittoTassie