SOS Ocean Racing Circumnavigation - Thomson into his third week

by SOS Media on 21 May 2010 Save Our Seas Ocean Racing departed Airlie Beach on the fifth of May at 10:30:20 in an effort to break the world record for sailing non-stop solo around Australia. Ian's mission is about raising awareness of what the damage plastic bags do to our environment.

Now into the third week of Ian Thomson's solo sailing world record attempt and things have been a little tough.

'It has been a hard 24 hours in a SE upwind slog. I have been waiting for hours for a SW to come in. Lately all I have been doing is zigzagging, working my way past Mystery Beach that should be the most Westerly point of my journey.'
With a boat that is designed to go down wind and currently sailing upwind, Ian reported 'Its never fun!'

Save Our Seas Ocean Racing departed Airlie Beach on the fifth of May at 10:30:20 in an effort to break the world record for sailing non-stop solo around Australia. Ian's mission is about raising awareness of what the damage plastic bags do to our environment.

Ian has been heading inland so he can get behind the islands and get out of the swells. Although the weather has cleared slightly for him, with the sun out for a change all he has to do is cope with the very rough seas.

SOS is now only 3500nm to the finish and so far Ian has been averaging 8.2 knots. His estimated finish time is Saturday the eighth of June, Ian believes he will finish anywhere between the first and second week of June.

SOS Ocean Racing the 40f Welbourn yacht is at present cruising 6 knots around 250nm NW off Perth, Ian thinks he should pass Cape Leeuwin by Sunday morning, which is reported as one of the three stormiest capes of the world.
This will then put Ian into the Southern Ocean, which he has be prepping his boat for the last few day, checking everything and putting things away.

Now with a very frustration day of only sailing 98nm behind him, Ian reported he looks forward to the wind building up.

Ian is currently heading inland to entre a westerly pressure system with gust at 25knots, although is unsure if he will get to the centre.

For more details check the website where new video footage will be available shortly. The tracker is struggling on the West Coast as expected but soon should be back to normal, in the meantime updates are coming every 4-6 hours. Visit www.sosoceanracing.com for full details.