Solo Sailor on track to smash record

2:48 AM Wed 20 Jul 2011 GMT

'Bruce Arms celebrates rounding Cape York - Solo Around Australia World Record attempt' Bruce Arms

Bruce Arms, a renowned sailor and two-time winner of the Solo Trans-Tasman yacht race, has completed week one of his world-record attempt to sail around Australia non-stop, solo, and un-assisted in five weeks.

At 12 noon on Sunday, 17 July 2011, Bruce in his catamaran Big Wave Rider, was some 370 kilometres west of Cape York, and 49 hours ahead of the existing record. Bruce said he was pleased with his progress to date but realises he is only one-fifth of the way around Australia.

'I have a long way to go yet including the long, treacherous leg across the Southern Ocean from Cape Leeuwin to Tasmania. But so far, so good.'

In the week since he departed on Sunday, 10 July 2011, Bruce has encountered extremes of weather from 3 hours of calm on Day 1 to the rough seas and strong winds which he had on Day 6 as he approached the Great Barrier Reef.

His planned entry through the reef was made at Raine Island Entrance, only 100kms north of where another intrepid sailor, Captain James Cook entered in the Endeavour through Providential Channel on 17 August 1770.

Bruce said he has adjusted to the limited sleep options available to the solo sailor.

'I have a couple of guard alarms - radar and AIS (Automatic Identification System for ships and fishing vessels) - but nothing beats a good lookout. I work around 20 minute catnaps, sometimes a bit longer, if I am confident of my surrounds.'

Big Wave Rider has been averaging 376 kilometres a day and should maintain these speeds for at least the next week.

Bruce's journey in Big Waver Rider can be followed via his website: www.brucearms.com

by Suzanne Arms

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Solo Sailor on track to smash record

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