Date1 May 2007
Time/2200GMT (2 May – 0800 Hobart)
Position46 26S 150 52E
Max Speed25knots
Course130T
WindNNE 30-40knots

Tony Bullimore has made a flying start on the Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge, averaging more than 18 knots over the first 16 hours at sea. After taking off yesterday with assistance from his team to hoist his mammoth mainsail, Bullimore aims to break the round the world single-handed record currently held by Dame Ellen Macarthur – who started from Ushant on the north west tip of France and completed her circumnavigation in 71 days.

During Bullimore’s first night at sea on his 102ft catamaran, Doha, they have been speeding up to 25 knots with winds increasing to 38 knots, gusting up to 45 knots. The British yachtsman reported a choppy sea state in the Tasman but that Doha was handling it well.

He reported: “I got a reef in early and everything is going smoothly.” Lee Bruce, Team Bullimore’s weather router has advised Tony that the winds should stay NNE for the next 24 hours but increase to 45 knots over the next 12 hours. But then around 1200 GMT today (2 May) the winds will become more northerly and continue blowing at 25 knots for the next four days.

Bullimore plans to complete his round the world voyage in 70 days, broken down in an estimated timeline:

Hobart to Cape Horn – 15 days
Equator – 26 days
Flores – 36 days
Equator – 46
Cape of Good Hope – 56
Hobart – 70