The Rip

Looking east, the Mornington Peninsula curves around Port Phillip, slowly narrowing until it juts towards Queenscliff.

This jut is Point Nepean and forms one of the two headlands that preside over the entrance to the bay, known as The Rip.

Point Lonsdale, itself the culmination of the Bellarine Peninsula upon which Queenscliff lies, is the other.

Together, the two points provide the first visual markers for seamen that they have arrived at Port Phillip.

Just 3.5km of water separate the Heads, a remarkably narrow opening when you consider the distance from the heads to Melbourne is more than 40 nautical miles, or well over 75 km, and that roughly 264km of shoreline stretches around the bay.

Gazing out toward Bass Strait, there appears to be more than enough room for ships to safely navigate the passage through Port Philip Heads.

In fact, on calm days you’d almost think it possible to simply jump on a surfboard and paddle across.

However, occupying the triangular expanse of water between Point Nepean, Point Lonsdale and Shortland’s Bluff - is the Rip.

And if the name alone doesn’t make you a little nervous, this infamous waterway’s history of wreaking havoc on unwary ships certainly will.

A treacherous channel of undulating reefs, mud banks and shoals constantly affected by unpredictable weather and tides, this narrow pass between Bass Strait and Port Phillip stirs unease amongst even the most experienced ship handlers.

Flow rates often exceed 6.5 knots per hour, while monster waves of up to 15 meters are not uncommon. At certain times, the outrushing water from Port Phillip can even be forced to flow upwards as it meets the inrushing water from the strait, creating a slapping, spouting ridge along the surface that almost needs to be seen to be believed.

Plenty of vessels have met their doom attempting to negotiate the tricky opening, with at least twenty shipwrecks located within the Rip itself and a further one hundred and twenty within ten miles of Port Phillip Heads.

Lieutenant John Murray and his crew aboard Her Majesty’s Lady Nelson achieved the first recorded crossing of the Rip in February 1802. Murray immediately identified the perils of the crossing, making particular note of the irregularities in depth and ocean surges in his journal.

Eventually, he and his crew discovered that although the gap between Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean was roughly 3.5km, only around a 1km stretch of it was navigable, and even then only with favourable tides and weather conditions.