Tasmania's like Glue says Tony Bullimore

by Rob Kothe on 8 Apr 2007
On Saturday it seemed that British veteran round the world sailor Tony Bullimore was probably less than 48 hours from the start of his Solo Round the World speed record.

Now comes the news that the latest weather system will not provide the right angle to clear New Zealand at speed and the next likely system is another week way.

Bullimore commented ‘Tasmania is like glue, it’s hard to get away from. We just have to wait for the window to open’.

'I am going to give it (the Record Attempt),my best shot and a bit more, if the weather is good, then with Lady Luck on my side, then I can give the record a shake, but if we have the wrong weather and a tough seaway then we just won’t be able to do'

Bullimore’s craft Doha, the 102 foot racing catamaran is 23 years old and it would seem unlikely that she's up to the task. As Enza, she was the boat Sir Peter Blake took the Jules Verne record, but the old boat has now been lightened with the removal of her main motor and most of the crew accommodation and she's been fitted with a modern 120 foot wing mast.

The Britisher knows the boat well, he has been twice round the world on her. He's confident in the boat ‘The important thing is I’ll have plenty of speed, actually the trick is to know when to put the brakes on.

‘Sailing single handed on such a big boat, its hard work and I am not as young as I used to be.' the 67 year old continued.

‘Reefing is quick, she is set up well for that, but its adding more sail that takes the time. Although I I reckon I can hoist the main in 20 minutes, take out the first reef, rest for a little and shake the second reef.’

Right now, the British Bulldog is waiting again, as he has since Christmas, for signs that the window might open. 'I'm ready to go, all my paperwork is up to date, the cheques have been written. We just need the right weather.'