Tony Bullimore
Blue Ocean Wireless Solo Round the World Challenge

Dateline: 4th April 2007. Hobart, Tasmania.  
 Lee Bruce, Team Bullimore’s weather guru, has set solo round the world yachtsman Tony Bullimore on ‘Orange Alert’ to start the Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge over Easter.

‘Looking at the predicted weather patterns, these are the best I’ve seen since we began monitoring the Tasman area back in December.’ He advises. ‘Assuming a launch at 08:00Z (10:00 Sunday Hobart time), the wind stays good at least to the 12th of April, based on an average of 400nm/day (17kt).  And if Doha made 500nm/day (21kt), it would take you to the 12th before you would outrun the good wind.  The wind direction stays near north the whole time, and the speed ranges from 15-25kt.  The start wind in Hobart is light, but it fills in quickly.  So we could delay the start until later in the day, which would allow everyone to attend church!
 
This map shows the pattern for 09/00Z - about 24-hours into the attempt.  Tony would be on a broad reach in 20-25kt, which would send him through the slot between Stewart Island and the Auckland Islands.  The circle marks a 400nm first day, and the X marks a 500nm first day - based on crossing the line at 08/00Z.  A 08/06Z start would work as well.

 

The charts below shows the boat position and the wind field at that time, based on four days of sailing.  The first is based on an average of 400nm/day, and the second uses 500nm/day. The charts suggest that this pattern offers flexibility in speed, and that the first four days of sailing can be as hot as the sea state and Tony's nerves will allow!
 

 

Of course, nothing is certain with a week-long forecast, things can change dramatically, but conditions look good at the moment.’

Tony Bullimore is busy packing the last few items onboard and with help from members of the Bellerive YC later this week, will re-bend the newly branded sails back on the 102ft catamaran.

For later updates on this alert, visit www.teambullimore.com


Further details from
Barry Pickthall
Team Bullimore
+44 (0)7768 395719