Former V8 Supercars driver survives Bass Strait

Former V8 Supercars driver Christian D’Agostin has survived a treacherous crossing of Bass Strait on his jet-ski, all in the name of raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer.

D’Agonstin, who has competed in the Bathurst 1000 six times, attempted a new speed record pass across the dangerous waters between Walkerville South in Victoria and George Town on Tasmania’s north coast.

His record attempt hit a stumbling block when there was no sign or contact from D’Agostin six hours into his solo ride.

A worried team of supporters launched an aerial search party. Just before 1.30pm yesterday, D’Agostin arrived in George Town unharmed after being belted by waves as high as three metres.

D’Agostin said that he knew the dangers of the pass, but wasn’t expecting the ferocious conditions.

"There was not meant to be much of a swell but it just got progressively worse," D’Agostin told said.

"The waves got to about three metres and, looking back, I just shouldn’t have gone.

"There was meant to be zero breeze but it was about 15 knots and it was blowing the top off waves.

"I was just getting barrel-rolled. I was bucked off the ski twice, it was just a nightmare.

"It is Bass Strait, the hardest and most dangerous stretch of water in the world."

D’Agostin is a former Commodore Cup champion (2000) and has driven at Bathurst with Perkins Motorsport and John Faulkner Racing. His best finish in The Great Race was with Kurt Wimmer in 2004, finishing 19th in the Holden Young Lions entry.