Back on Mainland Australia

by Ian Thomson on 7 Jun 2010 SOS Ocean Racing has successfully crossed Bass Strait and has just seen Mainland Australia near the NSW/Victoria Border. It was a tough crossing of Bass Strait for Ian Thomson as the wind was 20-30 and the swells were all over the place. However it was more the fact his auto-pilot was playing up again that made it difficult and very little sleep has been had.

Speaking with Ian this morning he said 'I am tired but relieved to see mainland Australia. It is a security blanket to know a safe port is never far away and I have that all the way home now. It is especially important with my Auto-pilot issues as I could, if need be, do without it now and hand steer from port to port and make it home that way. I have some 30+ days to cover 1200nm to break the world record so slow and steady will win the race now.'

Ian is trying to break 68d:8h:30 minutes set by David Beard and is currently looking at finishing in 40-42 days total, hence smashing the existing record. However in order to break the world record he must finish and this morning was a trying time when a belt broke on his engine and the replacement was found to be slightly too large. 'Couldn't believe it, found the spare and it was slightly too large.

'I have had to space out the pulley system with self amalgamating tape to make it fit and it is working so hopefully that will allow me to get home otherwise I am on the solar power only and that will take out a lot of my electonics which I rely on to navigate. But fingers crossed I don't need to go to that extent.' Ian said this morning.

Meanwhile he is in regular contact with Zinc FM in Mackay & Whitsundays. Scotty and Teagues call Ian every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning between 0815 & 0830 to discuss where he is. Tune in if you are in the area or through the internet if you aren't.

In the meantime Ian encourages everyone to use their green bags when shopping. His campaign is about ridding the oceans of plastic bags that are killing our marine life. 100,000 marine animals every year and 1 million sea birds die of plasic suffocation or entanglement. Ian says 'once you have unpacked your shopping, put your green bags in the boot of your car, not in the bottom drawer in your kitchen, that way when you want to go shopping they are there with you not at home.

To help Ian with his campaign simply logon to his website http://www.sosoceanracing.com and vote in the very short online poll.

For more details on the campaign visit www.sosoceanracing.com