Bulldog Bullimore on the way

by Rob Kothe on 1 May 2007 British yachtsman, Tony Bullimore is tonight sailing into the southern ocean in his bid to break Dame Ellen MacArthur's record for sailing solo around the world. Today he revealed he has a secret weapon.

Within Australia, Bullimore is famous for his 1997 rescue in the Vendee Globe race, when he spent five days in the Southern Ocean trapped in the upturned hull of his stricken yacht after the keel board snapped off.

The Australian Navy found him at an estimated cost of six million dollars. Bullimore is confident there will be no repeat of his rescue.

'People refer back to that and say 'oh is it going to happen again?' and I say 'I don't think so' he said.

'Since then I've done a modest 120,000 miles at sea, raced twice around the world and set some Atlantic records.'

68 year old Bullimore arrived in Hobart in November after a well publicised ‘gone missing’ passage from the Maldives.

A combination of poor weather windows, waiting for sponsorship and some boat issues, kept the British Bulldog in port.

Sailing his 102ft catamaran Doha, Bullimore was timed across the line at 05:50:09 GMT (15:50 local) between the Iron Pot Lighthouse and Pearson’s Point marking the entrance to the River Derwent. He was speeding through the flat seas at 16 knots. Within minutes, she was topping 21 knots in just 18 knots of breeze.

Bullimore was soon on his way down Storm Bay towards the Southern Ocean.

The forecast for tonight is for winds to build to 25 knots, gusting to 35 knots which could prove something of a baptism of fire for Bullimore at the start of this 70 day challenge. 'It is lucky that I have a full moon tonight which will help me to get acclimatised, but Wednesday could bring even stronger winds as I head down around New Zealand’s South Island' he said via satellite phone.

Bullimore added, 'I plan to throw in a couple of reefs later this evening in preparation for these stronger winds, so that I am fully prepared.'

Bullimore must arrive back in Hobart inside 71 days and 14 hours to set a new record. The current record was set by fellow Briton Dame Ellen MacArthur in 2005.

Today Bullimore revealed he has a secret fuel for what he hopes is just 70 days at sea, that peculiar Australian delicacy Vegemite.

The black yeast extract so beloved by Australian school children has become Bullimore’s favourite breakfast spread. He says 'spread thickly on toast, its rocket fuel to start the day.'