British veteran sailor Tony Bullimore, 70 this year, famous for surviving five days capsized in Antarctica before being rescued by the Australian Navy, is about to try for another sailing record.

On his 102ft catamaran, The Spirit of Antigua (pictured), Tony will sail the route of the Fastnet, aiming to break the race record of 44 hours, 18 minutes and 53 seconds set in 2007 by Mike Slade in ICAP Leopard. Tony is not able to join the Fastnet itself, as it does not allow catamarans.

The Fastnet route is 608 miles from Cowes, past Land’s End, across the Irish Sea, around the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse, and back to Plymouth via Bishop Rock. The Spirit of Antigua will be leaving on the morning of 9 August and aims to arrive at Mayflower Marina in Plymouth late on 10 August.

Tony has covered 400,000 racing miles during a sailing career spanning four decades. During this time he has won the Round Britain Race, the Round Europe Race, and has twice scored class honours in transatlantic races. Most recently he came second in the Oryx Quest 2005 in which he sailed nonstop around the world.

For further information, visit: www.teambullimore.com .