“There’s been times where it’s been incredibly dangerous and there’s been times when we’ve just been sitting around … appreciating the scenery and connecting with locals and cleaning up rubbish,” he said.

John and Maggie McGee (pictured). John has spent most of his life crossing the Bass Strait. Source: SBS News / Kerrin Thomas

While preparing for the crossing, McLennan enlisted the help of John McGee who’s spent much of his working life crossing the Bass Strait with shipping companies.

The end goal is Sydney Harbour — but before then, the boat will make stops at Wilsons Promontory in Victoria before heading up the east coast.

Coastal cleanups

“Some places we’ve found rubbish where we didn’t think we’d find rubbish.”

Some of the rubbish Samuel McLennan has collected during his voyage has been sent back to Tasmania to be turned into jewellery. Source: Supplied

Some of what’s been found is destined for art exhibitions, while other pieces have been sent back to Hobart to be made into jewellery.

“In this case, we’ve made it flat so you can lathe it and manufacture it and then use that to move on to making it into pieces of jewellery.”