Blue Ocean Wireless Challenges Solo Sailing Record
1 May 2007 by EDB
It’s time for another challenge to the solo round the world sailing record set in 2005. Tony Bullimore will sail from the Bellerive Yacht Club, Hobart, Tasmania in the 102ft catamaran Doha. The challenge is being sponsored by Blue Ocean Wireless.
Press release follows:
Blue Ocean Wireless, an Irish company focused on expanding communication capability in the merchant maritime sector, today announced the launch of the Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge.
Blue Ocean Wireless, together with Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, are sponsoring 68 year old veteran British yachtsman Tony Bullimore’s attempt to break the solo, non-stop round the world sailing record of 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds set by Dame Ellen MacArthur in 2005. Tony Bullimore will set off from the Bellerive Yacht Club, Hobart, Tasmania at midday, May 1, in a bid to break the 70 day barrier and, in doing so, set a new world record.
Domhnal Slattery, Chairman of Blue Ocean Wireless commented “We are delighted to announce the launch of the Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge and to sponsor Tony Bullimore’s attempt to set a new world record. Blue Ocean Wireless is committed to providing seafarers and crews of merchant maritime vessels with the capability to use their existing GSM handset in deep ocean water. In his attempt to break the world solo-circumnavigation record, Tony will be sailing across the world’s deepest oceans in the most remote locations. Our service will provide Tony with access to a satellite-enabled GSM network in these locations, for voice calls and SMS messaging. We wish Tony the best of luck and fair winds.”
The Course
From Tasmania, the 27,000 mile course will take Tony Bullimore into the Southern Ocean where the westerly winds in the Roaring Forty latitudes will slingshot him across the first 5,000 mile stage to Cape Horn. The course then follows the South American coast northwards to the Equator, from where Bullimore must navigate through the calms of the Doldrums and the Azores high pressure system, to round the island of Flores before returning southwards to the Cape of Good Hope.
Once in the Indian Ocean, the British yachtsman will sail south of Cape Leuwin, the Western tip of Australia and past the point where Bullimore spent 5 days capsized during the 1997/8 Vendee Globe Race. Once across the Australian Bight, he will navigate around Bass Strait and back to Hobart.
Timeline estimates for the Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge are:
The course has been sanctioned by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (www.sailspeedrecords.com) which will time Bullimore’s start and finish from Tasmania and monitor his progress around the world. The distance is exactly the same as if he started from Ushant on the north-west tip of France where Dame Ellen Macarthur, the current record holder began her 71 day 14 hour 18 minute voyage.
About Blue Ocean Wireless
Blue Ocean Wireless is an Irish company focused on expanding communication capability in the merchant maritime sector. Blue Ocean Wireless will provide, for the first time, GSM connectivity for seafarers in deep ocean water, where no other network exists, which allows users to make and receive voice calls, send and receive SMS text and email messages and browse the internet using their existing handset. Blue Ocean Wireless’ offering is based on Altobridge’s unique patent pending Aeronautical & Maritime Gateway Platform technology. This technology can also be applied to Superyachts, other merchant vessels and used, in conjunction with RFID technology, to track and monitor shipping containers while they are in transit. Blue Ocean Wireless is a joint venture between private investment firm, Claret Capital, and Irish technology communications company, Altobridge.
Posted in Boating, Sailboats, Navigation
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