Tony Bullimore
Blue Ocean Wireless Solo Round the World Challenge

Tony Bullimore on Doha picked up tow at Cape Colville at 7:00GMT and was towed to  Auckland where he arrived at midday.

At 04:16 GMT today, Tony Bullimore still had 92 miles to run to the entrance of the Hauraki Gulf and is expected to wait until daylight before making landfall and rendevouzing with a tug arranged to tow him into Auckland.

The winds overnight are expected to swing from South to SSE and range between 5-10 knots – head winds that could further delay Doha’s arrival.

The winds have finally filled in to give Tony Bullimore an easy ride due west towards Colville Point and the entrance into Hauraki Gulf.  At 11:00 GMT the British yachtsman and his 102ft catamaran Doha was reaching at 10.3 knots with just 175 miles to run.

Lee Bruce, Team Bullimore’s weather router predicts: "Winds will be 210T 20-25kt between 27/00:00 and 06:00GMT. The winds will continue to back, becoming 170T/20-25kt by 12:00 GMT (possible 30kt for a few hours near 09:00GMT). The SSE wind  will fade to 10-15kt by 18:00GMT. By 28/00GMT, the wind is 190/10kt.

With this scenario, Tony should be able to get to Colville Channel by 28/00 GMT (noon local NZ time on Monday the 28th).
The trend after 28/00:00GMT is for wind of 200-220T through 29/12:00GMT, so being on tow will help Tony avoid a tack fest to get to Auckland."