Our sponsors »

Home arrow Latest News arrow Tony Bullimore confirms Noon start for Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge on May 1st
Tony Bullimore confirms Noon start for Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge on May 1st
Monday, 30 April 2007

***Press conference at the Bellerive Yacht Club, Hobart, at 10:00am, prior to departure***

British solo circumnavigator Tony Bullimore will set off from the Bellerive Yacht Club, Hobart, at around Noon tomorrow (May 1) in a bid to break the 70 day barrier for sailing solo non-stop around the world. Repairs to the steering of his 102ft catamaran 'Doha'  were completed today just in time to take advantage of a significant weather window that will send him out across the Tasman Sea, around New Zealand and across the Southern Ocean to Cape Horn.

'Everyone has worked so hard to help me get the catamaran ready' The British yachtsman said today, adding. 'Ladies have been baking cakes and bringing them to the boat, and club members and sailors from the Bellerive YC have rallied round to help me get Doha shipshape. Their support has been fantastic, and in reality, I could not have done this all on my own."

The Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge takes Bullimore 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 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  advise him about impending weather systems on a daily, if not hourly basis. Once in the Indian Ocean, the Bullimore will rely on Bruce to help him to avoid the worst of the Roaring Forty winds that will speed Doha  south of 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 across Bass Strait and back to Hobart - all in 70 days!

Timeline estimates for the Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge are:
Hobart - Cape Horn: 15 Days
Equator: 26 Days
Flores: 36 Days
Equator: 46 Days
Cape of Good Hope: 56 Days
Hobart: 70 Days

The current record for a solo circumnavigation was set by Dame Ellen Macarthur in 2005 and stands at 71days 14hours 18mins 33seconds.

Lee Bruce, Team Bullimore's weather guru, points to fair but strong winds for the next three days. The thee charts below - 01/12Z, 02/12Z, & 03/12Z show Doha's intended track based on ant 0:3Z (1PM local) start, and an average speed of 20kt.  


Red/black circle marks estimated boat position.

"The wind at the start line may be light, but once Tony is on his way, it will fill in quickly. He might be at risk of a NNE gale during the first 24-36 hours, so he will need to make maximum speed from the outset to outrun the worst of these winds" Bruce advises.

Bruce's plan is for Tony to slide in behind--then under--the high pressure system currently southeast of Tasmania.  The wind is expected to then become NNW, allowing Doha to make an easterly heading between Auckland Islands and Campbell Island.

If that shift is delayed, Tony may need to pass south of Campbell Island, in order to keep the boat speed up.  Bruce adds. "That course would be closer to a Great Circle route, so it's not a bad choice as far as mileage is concerned.  But being farther south could put Tony in a stronger west wind, so we want to avoid that if we can.."
 
Challenge Club »