Bullimore goes solo

British offshore sailor to attempt round the world passage from Qatar

Tony Bullimore is to carry the flag for the 2006 Asian Games in a series of world sailing record attempts.

The ambitious programme announced today, will commence with an attempt to break the 70 day barrier in a solo non-stop circumnavigation that will start and finish in Hobart, Tasmania, then continue with a series of record chasing voyages between Japan, China, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and India, before returning to Qatar in time for the Asian Games in December.

Abdulla Khalid Al Qahtani, the Director General of the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee said today that Tony Bullimore and his 102ft catamaran (the former Formule TAG/ ENZA New Zealand) would not only provide considerable publicity for the Asian Games being staged in Doha between 1-15 December, but would carry Qatar’s sporting message right around the Asian Continent. He added, "Tony Bullimore is a great yachtsman and we welcome the opportunity to support these record challenges.”

Bullimore, who finished second in last year’s Oryx Quest non-stop round the world race from Doha and back, has had his catamaran adapted for singlehanded sailing. The boat will be named at a public ceremony in Doha and will then embark in June on a shake down record attempt from Qatar to Perth, Australia, before Tony Bullimore hoists sail in July at the start of his solo circumnavigation from Hobart, Tasmania.

The current solo round the world record, set last year by Dame Ellen MacArthur in the trimaran B&Q,, stands at 71 days 14hrs 18mins 33secs,. Tony Bullimore is convinced that his larger catamaran can complete the 21,719 nautical mile course in less than 70 days. The record attempt will be overseen by the World Sailing Speed Record Council which has stipulated a specific course. This takes in Cape Horn, a way-point off Rio de Janero, round the island of Fernando do Noronha off the Brazilian coast close to the Equator, then across the Atlantic to a way-point north of Flores in the Azores, before turning south to round Cap Vert, Dakar, the Cape of Good Hope and south of Australia back to Hobart.

The World Sailing Speed Record Council will also oversee Bullimore’s fully crewed record attempts across Asia just prior to the Doha Asian Games, when Tony Bullimore will be joined onboard by Simon Redding and Goncalo de Mello two of his Oryx Quest crew, together with leading Qatari sailors.

“The sailing facilities in Doha are among the best in the world and offer yachtsmen a unique opportunity to test their sailing skills in a variety of conditions.” Bullimore said today. “Qatar is developing into one of the top sporting centres in the world, and I am very proud to be carrying the Doha Asian Games flag around the world and promote what will be one of the biggest sporting events this year.”