Tony Bullimore
Blue Ocean Wireless Solo Round the World Challenge

Hi, Is a departure in winter likely to have problems with ice, and  visibility?

Dear David

Lee Bruce, our weather router is looking at a Tuesday May 1 or Wed  May 2 start for Tony Bullimore to leave Hobart.  This should give him the right reaching winds to slingshot him down and around New Zealand's south Island and into the Easterly flowing southern ocean air stream.

The furthest South he has to go is 58S when he goes around Cape Horn in around 2 weeks time when it is still early Autumn.  When he comes back into the Southern Ocean a month later, he will remain up in the  35 - 45 degree latitudes.

Yes, it will be cold, but he is well prepared for this with layers of thermal clothing, gloves and hats/balaclavas.  We are also sending him out with some simple 'central heating' like the chemical packs  that you recharge in boiling water and a terracotta pot that sits  upside down on a low burning gas stove which heats up his cabin.
The biggest issue will be the longer nights during this Indian Ocean  leg, but by then Tony believes he will be totally conditioned to  sailing at night after so much time at sea.

Sincerely
Barry Pickthall
Team Bullimore