Tony Bullimore
Blue Ocean Wireless Solo Round the World Challenge

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Tony Bullimore set for Tuesday start for the Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge

Sunday, 29 April 2007

Hobart, Tasmania. 29th April 2007. British round the world yachtsman Tony Bullimore is set to start the Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge from Hobart on Tuesday May 1. Lee Bruce, Bullimore's  weather guru has highlighted a low pressure system currently sweeping across the Australian Bight that will give Tony's 102ft catamaran 'Doha' a slingshot start across the Tasman and round New Zealand towards Cape Horn. "It looks the best weather window we have seen so far and will give me good reaching winds all the way down into the Southern Ocean." said the 68 year old yachtsman enthusiastically. The only fly in the ointment could be a problem with the catamaran's hydraulic  steering which began to play up during a final test sail in the Derwent River yesterday (Saturday). "We have an engineer coming down to the boat first thing on Monday morning to assess the problem. If it can be fixed easily, I will be on my way." said Bullimore. "Whatever, I am glad we found the problem before I set out. If the ram broke during the voyage, it would sink my chances of breaking the record." Bullimore's aim is to break the 70 day barrier for sailing solo, non-stop around the world. The current record stands at 71days 14hours 18mins 33seconds, set by Dame Ellen Macarthur in 2005. The course will take Bullimore straight down into the Southern Ocean where the westerly winds in the Roaring Forty latitudes will push him across the first 5,000 mile stage to Cape Horn. He will then follow the South American coast northwards and across the Equator from where he must pick his way through the calms of the Doldrums and those associated with the Azores high pressure system to round the island of Flores before returning southwards to the Cape of Good Hope. He will be guided throughout by American weather router Lee Bruce, who will  advisie him about impending weather systems on a daily, if not hourly basis. Once in the Indian Ocean, the British yachtsman will rely on Bruce to help him to avoid the worst of the Roaring Forty winds that will speed Doha  towards Cape Leeuwin marking the Western tip of Australia, and passed the point where Bullimore famously spent 5 dark days capsized during the 1997/8 Vendee Globe Race. Once across the Australian Bight, he must navigate his way through Bass Strait and back to Hobart - all in 70 days! The course has been sanctioned by the World Sailing Speed Record Council which will time Bullimore's start and finish from Tasmania and monitor his progress around the world. The distance is exactly the same as if he started from Ushant on the north west tip of France where Dame Ellen Macarthur, the current record holder began her  record run. PRESS BOATS: If you plan to follow the start on Tuesday and wish to reserve a place on a press boat, please e.mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Barry Pickthall on +44 7768 395719 before 5:00pm Tasmanian time to reserve a place.