Tony Bullimore
Blue Ocean Wireless Solo Round the World Challenge

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Day 14 - Bullimore battles against 50knot headwinds

Tuesday, 15 May 2007

Date May 15 2007 05:14GMT Position 041° 11'S 163° 10'W Speed 5.1 knots Course 008 Degrees True Wind Conditions  W 35-50 knots Tony Bullimore was battling against 50 knot head winds yesterday as he strove to make headway towards Auckland,New Zealand to repair rigging damage on his 102ft catamaran Doha.  "It is really bad out here. I have just the storm sail set at the moment and am trying to slow the boat right down to stop her slamming and to protect the rig." He reported yesterday via his Blue Ocean Wireless satellite phone. Now due east of Wellington, the British yachtsman is still some 1,200 miles from Auckland, but hopes that as the winds swing round to the SW today, this will allow him to sail a more direct course. According to Lee Bruce, Team Bullimore's weather router, Tony faces another day of strong winds before they clock back round to the NW and decrease to a more manageable 20-25knots. Mercifully, the outlook for the 16th-20th May shows no gale-strength wind when Tony should finally be able to make some meaningful progress towards Auckland.