Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

Long road to WSSRC World Record + Video

by Terry Travers on 12 Sep 2011
Big Wave Rider (Chamberlin 46) rounding SE Cape before heading for the finish in warmer QLD waters. - Bruce Arms Solo Around Australia Paul Scambler
On September 11th the World Sailing Speed Record Council announced the ratification of a new World Record for Mooloolaba sailor Bruce Arms sailing his self-built 46’ catamaran. See news article here).

Arms has become the inaugural world record holder for sailing solo around Australia.

Aboard the aptly named ‘Big Wave Rider’ Arms battled 60 knot winds rounding Western Australia’s Cape Leeuwin, strong headwinds in the Southern Ocean, and frustrating calms as he passed the bottom of Tasmania.

While deploying his parachute drogue during one of the Southern Ocean gales, (the drogue was subsequently lost overboard which left Arms and his 46’ catamaran to surf unrestrained on huge rollers), he suffered a serious leg injury but kept the details deliberately down played. But the bandaged leg and damaged knee and ankle on his safe return to Mooloolaba gave away the extent of his injury. On his return when questioned about his injury he laughed that his boat had held up better than he had.

After the loss of his drogue Arms told the Sunshine Coast Daily, 'I ended up surfing down a 12-metre wave, hanging on as tightly as I could. It was one of the scariest situations I have ever encountered on the ocean.'

Arms, originally from New Zealand, built the catamaran on the Sunshine Coast with the assistance of his wife Suzanne and friends after coming to Australia as an entrant in the 1998 Solo Trans Tasman Race aboard a 9.8m monohull Skiddy Too.

Arms subsequently entered ‘Big Wave Rider’ and won the 2007 and 2010 Solo Trans Tasman Races. He and his wife Suzanne currently live aboard ‘Big Wave Rider’ when Bruce is not racing the boat.

Just before completing his Australian circumnavigation Arms was asked about the journey. 'I’ve missed my wife and friends and I’ve certainly had enough of this cold climate sailing. Give me sunny Queensland anytime!'

Arms volunteered his boat building skills as project manager for Jessica Watson during the rebuild of her yacht and subsequent world renowned solo voyage around the world aboard her S and S 34 Ella’s Pink Lady.




Bruce Arms website

North Sails Loft 57 PodcastMySail 2025SCIBS 2025

Related Articles

Pip Hare joins Canada Ocean Racing
Sailing alongside Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer for The Ocean Race Europe Canada Ocean Racing is excited to announce that British offshore sailor Pip Hare will join their Be Water Positive campaign for the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe.
Posted today at 4:01 am
Antigua Race Week Day 3
Superb racing delivered Sailors ranging from newcomers to veterans of multiple America's Cup campaigns enjoyed Caribbean sailing at its best in today's racing at Antigua Sailing Week, with lots of sun and moderate tradewinds of 10-12 knots.
Posted today at 2:23 am
Australian Hobie Cat Nationals Entries Open
To be hosted by the HCAWA, with Geographe Bay Yacht Club Entries are open and the Notice of Race is live for the Pitts Design and Construction 53rd Australian Hobie Cat Nationals to be hosted by the HCAWA, with Geographe Bay Yacht Club, in Undalup Country, Busselton, Western Australia.
Posted on 29 Apr
WOW at Gippsland Lakes as actions accelerate
Getting on board with the UN International Women's Day 2025 theme "Women on Water" at Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC) has wasted no time in getting on board with the UN International Women's Day 2025 theme to #accelerateaction for gender equality in the sport.
Posted on 29 Apr
Saint-Tropez set 52 SUPER SERIES season opener
Crioula and Vayu won today's short, sharp warm-up practice races In a light breeze which reached 10kts at the most - a foretaste of what is forecast for the coming days on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez - Crioula and Vayu won today's short, sharp warm-up practice races.
Posted on 29 Apr
La Larga comes to a close
With the prize-giving ceremony at the RCNP The Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) held the prize-giving ceremony for La Larga this Tuesday, 29 April, at 19h00.
Posted on 29 Apr
Transat Paprec Day 10
Alexis Thomas / Pauline Courtois (Wings of the Ocean): “It's the fulfillment of a childhood dream” Between two replies, Alexis Thomas, contacted this morning, apologises for "having completely lost track of the day and time."
Posted on 29 Apr
The Allure of Timber
The longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood In these days of exotic materials, high modulus carbon and ultra lightweight construction, it's possible to overlook the longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood.
Posted on 29 Apr
Maxime Mesnil wins Ficker Cup
Field complete for 60th Congressional Cup After a weekend of fierce competition, the field is set for this week's 60th annual Congressional Cup. Maxime Mesnil (FRA) won the Ficker Cup, but it is Nicole Breault (USA) and Peter Wickwire (CAN) who have advanced to the main field.
Posted on 29 Apr
Antigua Race Week - Marina Resort Women's Race Day
Tight margins define racing Varied conditions tested teams at Antigua Sailing Week today across a range of wind strengths, with the big boats enjoying adrenaline-pumping speeds of 20 knots in the stronger gusts.
Posted on 29 Apr