After 11 days of silence, Tony Bullimore and his crew on the 102ft catamaran Doha 2006 were able to make contact with the outside world for the first time today.

Reporting their position at 13:00 UTC of 36' 09" S, 107' 3'E, Doha 2006 was approximately 420 miles from the West Australian port of Albany where the British yachtsman and his crew are heading to make repairs before continuing to Hobart, Tasmania.

Explaining their lack of communication, Tony told his team co-ordination centre in the UK "The crew and boat are fine. We have simply been out of satellite range for our Mini M phone, which is working again now that we are approaching Western Australia. We have two other satellite phones onboard, but there seems to be a problem with the aerial connections, which we will try and get fixed in Albany before heading on to Hobart."

Bullimore added that they were enjoying good favourable winds and expected to reach Albany some time Monday morning local time.

Tony Bullimore is sailing to Hobart to make a bid to break the 70 day barrier for sailing solo around the world. The current record, held by Dame Ellen MacArthur stands at 71days 14 hours.

Doha 2006 is promoting the 2006 Asian Games which start in Doha on December 1.

Last Updated ( Saturday, 18 November 2006 )