[MHml] Oops

[Paul Nudd]

The British sailing adventurer Tony Bullimore arrived with a bang at 
Albany in Western Australia yesterday to carry out repairs on his catamaran.

The yachtsman, 67, is heading to Hobart to begin an attempt to break a 
71 ½-day record for a SOLO around-the-world voyage. The chief executive 
of Albany Port, Brad Williamson, said a large crowd of locals and a 
media pack greeted Bullimore when he docked.

"I'm told there was a bit of an incident, unfortunately, with him 
colliding with the berth and SOMEONE falling overboard," Mr Williamson 
said. "But it was a minor incident, and the CREW MEMBER is alright."

Interest in Bullimore's latest visit to Australia has been intense since 
the failure earlier this month of communications aboard his yacht Doha 
2006, as it sailed across the Indian Ocean from Qatar. His satellite 
communications went down it was feared he might have run into trouble.

Bullimore has stopped in Albany for minor engine repairs and to repair 
his satellite communications.

Mr Williamson said Bullimore seemed to be enjoying himself. "He seems 
just to be having a ball sailing around the world."

Bullimore wants to break the record of 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 
33 seconds set by Dame Ellen MacArthur last year.

Bullimore was plucked from the Southern Ocean in a $6 million Australian 
Navy rescue in 1997 after spending five days trapped in the hull of his 
upturned yacht.

He had denied his communications failure this month was a stunt to 
publicise his tilt at the sailing record, ABC radio reported. He said HE 
AND HIS CREW did not understand what all the fuss was about.
-----------------------------------------
solo? he and his crew? someone fell overboard? crew member is alright?
How many Tony's are there?
$6 million Australian Navy rescue in 1997?
Australian navy should have paid Tony the $6 million for providing a 
real life exercise instead of practising war games.
PN