Around Australia on Brindabella - 18 days till applications close

by Ian Thomson on 22 Nov 2010 There are only 18 days now until applications close for sailors to join a world record attempt on Brindabella. Applications are open to any sailor with offshore experience who would like to join Save Our Seas Australia onboard Australia's most famous racing yacht, the almighty Brindabella, in their attempt to break the world record for the fastest monohull circumnavigation of Australia.

Earlier this year, Save Our Seas founder, Ian Thomson smashed the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of Australia by a whopping 26 days and this time is taking a crew of 18 to get the fastest monohull record. Whilst six of the crew are already selected, the final 12 slots are open to applicants from around the world who would love a chance at this unique sailing experience. It is not often the amateur sailor gets a chance to sail in a world record attempt.

Brindabella owner Jim Cooney has joined Ian in making this attempt and if this weekend's Cabbage Tree Race is anything to go by, the record is on the cards. Brindabella is in the best condition she has been in for quite some time with the team on Brindabella working tirelessly to fix, upgrade and improve everything on the boat. This has included significant work under the boat to ensure the hull is streamlined and the hull & keel are faired to perfection. Above decks, almost every fitting has been removed, fixed and/or replaced and with a new suite of sails she will be ready to fire.

The world record attempt will take place in May 2011. Applicants will go through trials before the final 12 are selected and announced on the 1st February. Applicants must have extensive offshore sailing experience however they must also be passionate about saving our seas.

All applications must be received by December 10th. visit www.sosoceanracing.com/australia.htm for more details.

Save Our Seas is an organisation run by Ian to promote awareness of the damage we are doing to our environment with plastic bags and plastics. These world record attempts are all about creating that awareness and all applicants will have to run an awareness campaign in their local community. Slowly but surely Australian's are cottoning on to the fact that plastic bags are not good with Tasmania recently passing a bill to ban the non-biodegradable bags. South Australia already has a plastic bag ban. The campaign is also stretching across the ditch to New Zealand where Ian recently formed Save Our Seas NZ.

'The problem we have is that people just aren't aware of the issues we cause with our 'convenient' plastic bag. We use them for as little as 2 minutes and they take 1000 years to break up. Some of them end up in the oceans and end up killing wildlife. 100,000 mammals will die in the next 12 months due to plastic suffocation or entanglement' Ian said.

Even if you don't want to join the crew, you are encouraged to visit www.saveourseasaustralia.com and support the campaign by joining as a member. Maybe you want a unique christmas present for someone. Membership gives you a copy of Ian's book Dare to Dream as well as a crew t-shirt all for just $60 with all proceed's going SOS to continue their awareness campaign. 'The funds raised from membership allow me to travel to schools around Australia & NZ to talk to the students of the issue. Past tours have been highly successful with students writing letters to Julia Gillard and creating projects after my talks. It is always good to see the young people's enthusiasm. I'll be touring again in Feb/Mar 2011' Ian said. What's more is that if you join before Dec 24th you have the chance to win the members draw prize of a 3 nights stay at Paradise Bay in the Whitsundays for 2 people valued at $4,180. Visit www.saveourseasaustralia.com/membership.htm to find out more or to join up.

So for all you amateur sailors out there, if you've ever wanted to be part of a world record attempt, here is your chance.

Visit www.sosoceanracing.com for full details.