Tony Bullimore
Blue Ocean Wireless Solo Round the World Challenge

Tony Bullimore has finally left the Roaring Forty latitudes and found lighter winds. Reporting over his Blue Ocean Wireless satellite phone yesterday, the 68 year old British solo yachtsman confirmed:

"There is barely any wind now and I am struggling to make much more than 3-4knots. It is a complete contrast to what I have been experiencing for the past 16 days and given me the chance to catch up on sleep."

"Big seas continue to roll in from the west however, making it almost impossible to make headway on the opposite tack towards New Zealand. I think I will have to get a bit more north before I can tack over towards Auckland." Bullimore added.

Lee Bruce, Team Bullimore's weather router posed the same question yesterday.  "The problem is how to limit easting - which only delays the onset of better wind - but also how to add a bit more northing.

If Tony continues on a N 030-040T heading, he will probably need to go all the way up to the 35S latitude before the wind allows a switch to starboard tack so that he can make a reasonable course for Auckland.

Alternatively: once north of 37S, slow down - if he can - to minimize easting, and try to go tack over to starboard no later than 36S - if sea state allows. That course would be in the 220T range, but it would at least have him moving toward the improving wind.  Sea state may well be the controlling factor here, so we will have to play it by ear."

Multihulls like Tony's 102ft catamaran Doha, are not good at sailing to windward at the best of times, but Lee Bruce does have better news: "The winds will become SE 25kt by the 19th!"  he predicts.

They would carry Doha straight into Auckland.

Tony is keeping everything crossed!!