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Tony Bullimore, Saved in Dramatic Ocean Rescue, Dies at 79

By Neil Genzlinger

• Aug. 7, 2018

“It was like a washing machine from hell.”

That is how Tony Bullimore once described the four days he spent in a frigid ocean underneath his capsized sailboat, water churning in and out through a broken window as he waited for rescue or death.

It was rescue that arrived first, in the form of the Adelaide, an Australian frigate that found Mr. Bullimore during a frantic search undertaken when he and several other participants in an around-the-world race ran into a catastrophic storm in the Southern Ocean.

Mr. Bullimore, whose ordeal and rescue in January 1997 transfixed the world, died last week in Bristol, England. He was 79.

The cause was cancer, the BBC reported. At his funeral on Monday in Bristol, a niece, Yvonne Grant, read a eulogy on behalf of herself and a nephew, Steve Mulvaney. “He didn’t just dream big,” she said of her adventurous uncle. “He lived big.”

Mr. Bullimore was 57 when he undertook the 1996-97 Vendée Globe, a solo around-the-world yacht race, in a 60-foot ketch named the Exide Challenger. The race, which takes several months, begins on the French coast, with the sailors going south and clockwise around the globe. In the Southern Ocean, off Antarctica, the weather was more than the Exide Challenger could withstand.

“The keel came off like breaking a matchstick,” Mr. Bullimore told The Associated Press after his ordeal, describing the moment when the key stabilizing part of his boat broke. “It just went ‘snap.’ And within seconds, literally within a few seconds, the boat was sitting upside down with me sitting inside the boat, sitting and standing and sliding around on the roof, with water slowly seeping in.”

He was in a pocket of air, but that pocket soon shrank. In “Godforsaken Sea: Racing the World’s Most Dangerous Waters” (1998), a book about that ill-fated race, the author Derek Lundy described what happened:

“Then the window smashed by the boom, the boat instantly flooding, the cabin contents sucked out into the sea. Bullimore diving down and through the companionway hatch to try to cut away his life raft. The hatch slamming shut, chopping off his finger.”

He managed to push a distress beacon device out through the broken window in hopes that it would reach the surface and broadcast his location; he then climbed onto a shelf, half in and half out of the water. He was wearing an immersion suit, which kept him from hypothermia.

He was not the only competitor in trouble. Elsewhere in the vast ocean, Raphael Dinelli had also capsized; a fellow racer, Pete Goss, made a harrowing trip through stormy seas and rescued him. Thierry Dubois was plucked from a life raft by a helicopter. Another competitor, Gerry Roufs, was not so fortunate; his body was never found, though the wreckage of his boat turned up months later off Chile.

Anthony Maurice Frederick Bullimore was born on Jan. 15, 1939, in Southend-on-Sea, on the English coast east of London, to Bill and Kitty (Da Costa) Bullimore. As a boy he helped his father in his shop in the Petticoat Lane Market in London.

Before he was known for his sailing adventures, he was a nightclub owner. In 1965 he married Lalel Jackson, an immigrant from Jamaica, and the next year they opened the Bamboo Club in Bristol. The club was known for its Afro-Caribbean music and mingling of cultures and races. The club presented a number of big-name stars, including Tina Turner, Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley, before a fire forced its closing in 1977.

His wife survives him.

Mr. Bullimore, who also had an import-export business, entered his first solo trans-Atlantic race in 1976 and was England’s Yachtsman of the Year in 1985. In their eulogy, his niece and nephew said he logged 300,000 ocean miles and competed in more than 150 races. He continued to sail after his near-fatal experience in the Vendée Globe.

He was not without his detractors. Even while the 1997 search and rescue was in progress, some critics wondered about the high cost of such operations and who should pay them. In 2006, when Mr. Bullimore was out of radio contact for 11 days during an attempt to set a solo circumnavigation record, news accounts speculated that the blackout was merely a publicity stunt. After he phoned his wife on the 11th day, he and his support crew offered the explanation that he had turned off his onboard phone to conserve power or had been out of satellite range.

After his dramatic rescue in 1997, Mr. Bullimore was quick to start telling his story, including in a book, “Saved,” published later that year. He also wrote a first-person account that appeared in The Western Daily Press, a British newspaper, in August 1997, describing his state of mind while he waited for potential rescue.

“I’ve never actually been afraid of dying,” he wrote. “I’ve heard people say that anyone who isn’t frightened of death is a fool, but I don’t agree.

“I can’t afford to get scared; I have to look at the situation and work out the logistics. That’s the only way I’m going to stay alive for a little longer — just in case they’re coming.”

Tony Bullimore, British Yachtsman who survived in tiny air pocket in capsized yacht for days in 1996 round the world race, dies from cancer aged 79

A British sailor and entrepreneur has died at the age of 79 from a rare cancer, according to reports.

Tony Bullimore survived for several days in the upturned hull of his boat which capsized when he was racing solo around the world in 1996, making national headlines.

He had been taking part in the Vendee Globe single-handed around-the-world race in his boat, the Exide Challenger, and was 2,200km off the coast of Australia .

Rescuers from the Australian navy pulled him from the Southern Ocean after he had been stranded for four days.

His impressive survival earned him the nick-name bulldog.

The Queen praised the sailor’s "extraordinary feat of survival" before later meeting him in person.

Mr Bullimore was married to Lalel Bullimore and moved to Bristol in the 1960s where he opened a music venue called the Bamboo Club in 1966 which hosted many famous names including Bob Marley.

Ben E King and the Wailers also played at the venue before it closed 11 years after opening because of a fire.

Bristol's Lord Mayor Cleo Lake paid tribute to Mr Bullimore on Twitter.

She wrote: "A Bristol legend both on the waters and on the music scene. Everything you did to break down racial barriers. Sleep well Tony Bullimore and thank you".

What the papers say – March 23

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Near record 2.7 million working-age adults are too sick to work, says think tank

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Naval Historical Society of Australia

Preserving Australia's Naval History

Occasional Paper 98: Life Line- the Rescue of Tony Bullimore

A.N. Other · Dec 7, 2020 · Print This Page

The rescue of yachtsmen in the Southern Ocean has been headline news on several occasions in recent decades. Of particular interest was the rescue of Tony Bullimore in January 1997. The historic moment of his rescue captured the imagination of artist, Darrell White whose painting was exhibited in the Australian Society of Marine Artists annual exhibition,2020. This two-part paper provides insight into Darrell’s interest in capturing the moment of rescue on canvas. It also provides a personal insight into Tony Bullimore from the perspective of Rear Admiral Raydon Gates AO, CSM, RAN Rtd. At the time of the rescue the then Captain Gates was in command of the FFG, HMAS Adelaide, which was the rescue ship.

Painting: ‘The Life Line’ by Darrell White

The Creation of “The Life Line”

By Darrell White, ASMA

While participating in the Vendée Globe single-hand, around-the-world race, Tony Bullimore’s yacht Exide Challenger capsized on 5 January 1997. In the mountainous seas of the Southern Ocean 2,500 kilometres South-South-West of the West Australian coast, Bullimore was trapped in an air pocket underneath his overturned craft. Alerted by Bullimore’s distress beacon, the Australian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre requested immediate assistance from the Australian Defence Force. Four days later a RAAF P-3 Orion and the frigate HMAS Adelaide closed on Bullimore’s stricken yacht to complete one of the most remarkable sea-rescues in Australian maritime history.

In March 2020, New Zealand went into COVID-19 lockdown, which meant we were confined to our homes for six weeks. Movement around the city was limited to one person per household for essential items only. On the upside, this proved to be a very productive time for my art. I had finished some seascapes and was looking for the next project. I also knew that the Australian Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) were planning their annual exhibition and I wanted to have a piece to exhibit that had an Australian theme.

I was cleaning out some of my old drawers and found a yellow A4 Navy envelope, addressed to Ross Shardlow, a fellow artist, mentor and good friend. It contained photographic references of HMAS Adelaide and the rescue of Tony Bullimore. It was instantly clear what my next piece would be. The timing was perfect. But how did I end up with this letter?

Back around 2008, when I lived in Western Australia, Ross and I were having one of our art and wine evenings. This would always involve looking through his studio and talking about upcoming works. He showed me a collection of photographs of Tony Bullimore being rescued.

I remembered serving at HMAS Stirling at the time when HMAS Adelaide was called upon to rescue the stricken yachtsmen. The idea of depicting an event that unfolded during my naval service was very appealing. I guess Ross thought, with my paintings and drawings of Royal Australian Navy themes, that it would be fitting for me to do the work.

To write this article, I called Ross to get the backstory to how he came to receive the images. Back to 2000, Bruce Stannard AM had a discussion with Ross about creating such a painting, which led to Bruce seeking some reference material. Bruce contacted Vic Jeffery OAM at HMAS Stirling , Garden Island, and Vic sent an envelope full of photos to Ross.

It was when Ross shared the photos that the idea of creating a painting got lodged in my mind. However, I had some commissions to finish first. Then I found myself planning a move to New Zealand with the family; executing the move and finally finding User Experience (UX) Design work (my fulltime occupation) once in Wellington. With all the turmoil that comes with such actions, the idea of painting the rescue of Tony Bullimore was stowed away until this year (2020).

Fresh from finishing the seascapes in relative quick time (for me) I started the initial composition work. Thinking I could mimic the same speed as the seascapes, I was soon reminded of the difference between them and the substantial research required for these types of works to allow for accurate compositing and depiction of the event. Add an exhibition deadline that specifically stated that the painting “must be dry”, I knew interesting times lay ahead for me.

I use acrylics because my ‘studio space’, being mainly the living room table, is shared with my young family. So, the low odour, water clean-up and fast drying qualities of the medium works well for my situation. I still work fulltime as a UX Designer, so my creative time is limited to after the kids’ bedtime. Some research and concept sketching was done during lunch breaks at work, which allowed for designated Art evenings to be utilised purely for painting.

My studio space – “work with what you have”

The photographic references were of course invaluable in giving me a clear picture of the moment Tony Bullimore surfaced and the position of the rescue boat. However, I wanted HMAS Adelaide in frame. Problem was, all my reference shots were taken from Adelaide ’s point of view. So, I decided to get creative and position the viewing point beyond the action, looking back at Adelaide .

I found a German documentary on YouTube with a great deal of video footage, including the P3 Orion passing overhead. This sparked the idea of having all of the assets involved in the rescue present in the composition. Through a combination of this video, the original reference material and online photos, I was able to assemble an accurate depiction.

I assumed the Phalanx close-in weapon system was deployed on board HMAS Adelaide , but I promptly removed it when I noticed its absence in a photo. The same image gave me the volume and colour of exhaust coming out of the funnel and uniforms of the crew lining the decks. Watching a video repeatedly to spot details like the position of the ship’s Seahawk, you quickly notice quirks in the editing of the video, such as footage of launching the ship’s boat for the rescue, which set out with a crew of three and returned with a crew of six and a yachtsman.

The composition went through several subtle inflight changes as I reworked the painting so the ship’s boat and Tony’s yacht were correctly scaled and positioned. As always, I find it is good practice after staring at a painting for so many hours to fire off an image of the work to Ross to get his feedback, and my sanity check. The work was completed two weeks before it was due to be boxed up and sent to Sydney.

The final painting shows HMAS Adelaide standing by in the background, with the P3 Orion off in the distance. The boat crew are circling around the yacht looking for signs of life after hammering on the hull. At the point of capture, the viewer is hovering just above the swell as Tony appears from underneath his yacht. One of the boat crew has spotted him as the coxswain steers the RHIB according to his direction.

Detail of “The Life Line”

The ASMA’s 24th National Exhibition, “Seas of Change”, was held at the Royal Art Society of New South Wales in October 2020, and is an annual event.

TONY BULLIMORE – A REFLECTION

By Raydon Gates

When I first saw a photograph of Darrell White’s excellent painting ‘The Life Line’, many memories came flooding back around those extraordinary events of January 1997.  Recounts of the rescue have been previously well covered in this journal, so I would like to reflect a little on Tony Bullimore post first meeting him deep in the Southern Ocean all those years ago.

My first impression of Tony, after the relief of the rescue of course, was his gregarious nature. Once he had recovered from the shock of his four day ordeal; plus starting to heal from his injuries of loss of part of a little finger, mild hypothermia, dehydration and frostbite on his fingers and toes, he immersed himself into the ship’s company. He would chat with everyone and anyone. He could often be found on the flight deck with a cup of tea in hand and bumming readily offered cigarettes, always ready to share a yarn. He was quite a sight in his grey coveralls offered by his adopted Petty Officers Mess, his HMAS Adelaide ball cap and big fluffy socks and open sandals protecting his damaged feet.

He became very much part of the crew; so much so that once it became known that HMAS Adelaide would be greeted on arrival by a large crowd of well wishes and a throng of international media, there was genuine concern that ‘our Tony’ would be cosseted and not overwhelmed by the attention. There was no reason for concern; Tony handled the mayhem with aplomb.

I recall the media conference on the wharf in front of more than 50 international journalists when he was asked how he would deal with his PTSD. He asked me in a whisper what did PTSD mean: when I explained he turned back to the media and being the ex-Royal Marine he was, replied “he would go down to the pub with a couple of the local lads and talk it through.” He was a tough old coot!

My wife Alison and I had the pleasure to share a quiet dinner in Fremantle with Tony and his wife Lalel before they returned home to United Kingdom. The owner of the restaurant requested that Tony and I sign a dinner plate that they would mount on the restaurant wall.  Tony drew an upside down yacht and signed “this is how they found me – thank you Australia!”

Alison and I were fortunate to dine with Tony and Lalel again a few months later, this time in their home city of Bristol. Tony insisted we visit a famous local establishment, Harvey’s, which as well as a highly regarded restaurant had a wine cellar full of aged sherry casks. I recall we ended the night enjoying a fine sherry from the year of Alison’s birth. Of course decorum prevents me naming the year! A significant part of the evening for Tony was that he wore a pair of enclosed shoes for the first time since returning home: his frostbite injuries had (slowly) repaired and pleasingly he had not lost any toes. We stayed in touch with the Bullimores for many years as he continued his sailing adventures, always seeking new endurance records to break, plus concurrently planning his retirement in Lalel’s home country of Jamaica.

I will digress here to speak briefly about the other Vende Globe yachtsman we recued on that mission south, the Frenchman Thierry Dubois.  I still recall my amazement as we circled Bullimore’s Exide Challenger when I turned around on the bridge wing to find Thierry standing beside me giving directions as to where Tony might be in the upturned hull.  We had recovered Thierry by helicopter only five hours earlier!  He had been exposed to the elements for four days, firstly tied to the rudder of his over turned yacht Pour Amnesty International and then alone in an eight man life raft; but his main concern was to be on the bridge to help a fellow competitor.  They are a very resilient community those solo round-the-world yachtsmen!  On our return journey to Fremantle Thierry was much more circumspect; he was comfortable to sit in my cabin and talk.  This experience for him had underscored his mortality. He spoke of his intention upon return to France to marry his long-time girlfriend and start a family, create a legacy if you will.  In January 1998 I received a post card from France which simply said “remember one year ago – thank you”.  I was pleased to note in the competitors list of the following Vendée Globe sailing race: Thierry Dubois, France, married, one son!

Undeterred by his near-death experience, Tony carried on with ocean racing, including another attempt to sail solo around the world in 2006.  We discussed this and thought starting from Hobart would provide the necessary wind assistance to break the record.  Unfortunately, again he had to abandon the attempt due to gear failure just east of New Zealand

Over the years Tony and I would reconnect over a documentary or a radio show on the BBC or our ABC as certain anniversaries arose.  Never losing his love, or respect, of the sea Tony kept sailing until he was 78.  He finally lost a battle – to cancer in July 2018, he was 79.  He never got to retire to Jamaica.

His death lead to another media bombardment with many interview requests.  I was honoured to recall a humble, robust and very talented man who loved life and knew how to live it to the full.  He was a world class yachtsman with a well-deserved reputation for tenacity and success. Rest in Peace Tony Bullimore.

The rescues of Thierry Dubois and Tony Bullimore would not have been possible without the support of HMAS Westralia commanded by CMDR Tony Ladomirski. Westralia replenished HMAS Adelaide on 11 January thereby enabling the frigate to effect a successful rescue.

HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Westralia in the Southern Ocean, January 1997, RAN image

Further Reading

Semaphore: Search and Rescue: A Miracle in the South, SPC-A available at: https://www.navy.gov.au/media-room/publications/semaphore-search-and-rescue-miracle-south

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Tony Bullimore: A survivor for five days inside an upturned boat dies

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Tony Bullimore dead at 79: Sailor who famously survived four days in upturned boat passes away

Mr Bullimore became known as the 'British Bulldog' following his amazing tale of survival during the Vendée Globe race in 1997

• 11:07, 31 Jul 2018
• Updated 12:10, 31 Jul 2018

Sailor and businessman Tony Bullimore, who famously survived four days in a capsized boat during a solo round-the-world race, has died aged 79.

The former Royal Marine had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, according to reports.

Mr Bullimore became known as the 'British Bulldog' following his amazing tale of survival and dramatic rescue 1,300 miles off the coast of Australia during the Vendée Globe race in January 1997.

For four days the then 57-year-old remained crouched in the hull of his upturned yacht in the freezing Antarctic Ocean, eating chocolate and drinking water to stay alive after finding an air pocket.

The sailor, who lived in Bristol, was feared to have drowned until an Australian navy ship spotted the Exide Challenger yacht and raised the alarm.

Mr Bullimore was suffering from dehydration and mild hypothermia, and had lost the top of a frostbitten finger.

He was rescued from the yacht, brought onboard the frigate HMAS Adelaide and then taken to hospital as his family and friends celebrated the news that he was alive.

He later met the Queen after he returned home to the UK.

Philanthropist Mr Bullimore was celebrated for his legendary careers in sailing and music clubs, and for "breaking down racial barriers".

He died on Monday night from a rare, inoperable pelvic growth, according to his family.

He is survived by his wife Lalel, with whom he opened the legendary Bamboo Club in Bristol in 1966.

It was the first social venue in Bristol to welcome the African-Caribbean community.

Mr Bullimore and his Jamaican wife raced racist abuse as a mixed race couple.

Their nightclub hosted stars including Bob Marley and the Wailers, as well as Ben E King, before it closed 11 years after opening because of a fire.

Mr Bullimore simultaneously ran the equally famous Granary Club in Bristol, which, from 1968 to 1988, hosted the likes of Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy, Supertramp, and Status Quo.

His nephew Steven Mulvaney, 63, paid tribute to his "amazing" and "respected" uncle, saying: "They don't make them like that any more."

Steven added: "How do you describe Tony? He was an amazing person and he had a great life.

"He was as at home in the back of a bar in Jamaica as much as he was in Windsor Palace with the Queen.

"He was a people person, he helped an awful lot of people from all walks of life.

"He was a bit like Marmite - people either loved him or hated him, but they all respected him.

"Tony was just a character. They don't make them like that any more."

Paying tribute to Mr Bullimore, Bristol's Lord Mayor Cleo Lake celebrated the sailor for being a "legend" on the waters and for breaking down racial barriers.

She wrote on Twitter: "A Bristol legend both on the waters and on the music scene.

"Everything you did to break down racial barriers.

"Sleep well Tony Bullimore."

Mr Bullimore's nephew, Steven, said: "His community spirit was unparalleled. Going back 50 years, to have a white guy involved in the black community was just unheard of.

"Right from the beginning, Tony was always a high achiever. He was a grafter, he got on with things.

"And people loved him, and so they worked with him. He loved to help people - but he would never make a big deal out of it."

Steven added: "There's not many of those kinds of people left in the world.

"People like Tony, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and so on - they push boundaries, and they make it better for people coming after them, because they've pushed those boundaries a bit further.

"Rest in peace, Tony. You deserve it."

The BBC and ITV both reported that Mr Bullimore died after suffering from cancer.

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British sailor Tony Bullimore dies

British sailor tony bullimore, who was rescued in the southern ocean by the australian navy, has died at the age of 79..

British yachtsman Tony Bullimore prepares to sail out of the Derwent River. Source: AAP

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Bullimore rescue coin toss a lucky exclusive

The death of yachtsman Tony Bullimore would have triggered memory flashbacks for thousands of West Australians enthralled by his Southern Ocean rescue as it captured the world’s attention in 1997.

As the only television reporter aboard HMAS Adelaide, which plucked the pint-sized adventurer from freezing waters halfway between Australia and Antarctica, my most vivid recollection was losing the toss of a coin.

Covering big stories guarantees some some strange twists and turns. When the British sailor — thought to be dead or dying — suddenly bobbed up from under the upturned hull of his busted yacht, the global fervour for the Bullimore story was fierce.

And losing that coin toss hours later turned out to be lucky. Well, kind of lucky.

On Sunday, January 5, 1997, word was spreading that solo British yachtsmen Bullimore, 57, and French sailor Thierry Dubois, 29, had triggered mayday calls during a round-the-world race.

Their capsized yachts, according to RAAF Orions that had maintained a circling vigil, were hours apart and more than 2000km off the southern coast of WA.

The only chance the men had of being rescued was if the Adelaide — deployed from the Royal Australian Navy’s base at Garden Island — could locate them in time.

A man who famously survived four days in his upturned yacht off the WA coast, has died of cancer surrounded by his family.

Having been aboard HMAS Darwin when French sailor Isabelle Autissier was rescued in the Southern Ocean in 1995, I rolled up for work at Channel Nine on the Monday and volunteered for the Adelaide rescue mission.

Navy public relations stalwart Vic Jeffery organised a bunk aboard and it was agreed that I would work in a “pooled” media arrangement with Channel Seven cameraman Ross McLean.

Whatever rescue vision was gathered during the seven days of drama would have to be made available to other media on the warship’s return. Back in those days — and under such unusual and remote circumstances — it was not just a case of shoot and send.

As The West Australian’ s photographer Bill Hatto discovered, when it came time to getting his world-exclusive photographs of Bullimore’s amazing rescue off the Adelaide to the mainland, he needed to be patient and ingenious.

There was no ship-to-shore internet and marrying up the photograph-sending equipment of that time with the navy’s marine satellite technology proved challenging.

Incredibly, Hatto made deadline for the first available edition of The West Australian after the rescues of the yachtsmen.

Days before those tense times unfolded, the rising swells were testing the stomachs of me and some media colleagues.

After gripping a black plastic garbage bag for several hours, I opted for the “big needle” on offer to fix the sea sickness once and for all. Throwing up down below while the Australian navy carried out one of the most famous rescues in its proud history was not an option.

On January 9, McLean and I stood on the deck of the Adelaide as Dubois’ stricken yacht and attached liferaft came into sight on a grey and foreboding morning in the middle of nowhere.

The ship’s Seahawk helicopter took off and within minutes returned with a cold, hungry and grateful Frenchman. One down, one to go. Adelaide headed full-steam ahead further south to where Bullimore’s beloved Exide Challenger was at the mercy of the sea.

Unlike with Dubois, there had been no proof of life since the emergency beacon was triggered by Bullimore four days earlier.

Even his sailing mates in Britain were pessimistic about the chances of him being alive.

But the British bulldog had other ideas and as the Adelaide got close enough to the flipped yacht, a rigid inflatable boat was deployed with a recovery team to look for any signs of survival.

“There’s something in the water,” I shouted to McLean as he focused and aimed his camera lens. “There! He’s there! He’s just popped up.”

The rescuers returned with a tired but beaming Bullimore and the images of the luckiest sailor alive kissing one of his bearded navy saviours as they brought him aboard the frigate would soon be seen around the world.

But this was a television news story that could not wait for the Adelaide to dock days later.

With Channel Seven taking the lead, a gutsy decision was made by the television networks to send a twin-engine plane fitted with video-receiving equipment into the Southern Ocean.

It would circle the Adelaide and a technician transferred from HMAS Westralia — a refuelling ship — would beam the video up to the circling plane.

That operation was time critical, apparently, because the aircraft’s limited range.

Seven news reporter Howard Gretton was aboard the plane and insisted there was no time left for me to send the pieces to camera I had done of the rescue for that night’s Channel Nine news.

He still chortles about that element of the Bullimore rescue to this day. After being given the all-clear medically, Bullimore was happy to do interviews and the Adelaide’s captain Raydon Gates decided that the media organisations with representatives on the ship would get priority.

That is where the toss of a coin came in.

McLean and I were told that we could put Bullimore on the satellite phone for a so-called “phoner” interview with our respective television networks.

To decide who should go first, Gates tossed a coin. I lost. Within seconds of Bullimore being put through to a Seven staffer on dry land, it was clear the network wanted the rescued sailor tied up in an exclusive deal.

That is the nature of the beast when a big story breaks.

Unsure of what he should say to the person pushing on the other end of the phone, Bullimore handed the phone to Gates as I looked on amid the tension.

This is how I recall the conversation.

“If you can get someone higher than my command in the navy to tell me there are restrictions on who Tony Bullimore can and can’t talk to, then fine,” the ship’s commander said firmly.

“Otherwise, he’ll be sticking to the arrangement and do a number of interviews.”

Five minutes later, Gates asked me which number at Channel Nine he should ring.

Given it was approaching 6pm in Sydney, I gave him the number for Mike Munro, who was preparing to present that night’s A Current Affair program.

Munro immediately set up his studio for the phone interview and about 30 minutes later, Bullimore’s firsthand and exclusive account of clinging to life in an air pocket of his upturned yacht was broadcast.

But, as those in journalism know well, you win some and you lose some.

When Bullimore disembarked the Adelaide three days later with the world’s media waiting for him on the dock, the celebrity sailor was sporting a Channel Seven hat and the other networks were left to ponder why.

I saw Bullimore again in 2006 when he pulled into Albany for repairs on a catamaran he was delivering to Tasmania.

Such was the enduring fascination with the yachtsman and his 1997 rescue that his stopover became world news — partly because he came alongside too fast that day and slammed into the jetty, sending a crewman toppling into Princess Royal Harbour. He certainly lived a full and courageous life before being diagnosed with cancer and dying this week.

Without blokes like him, reporters like me would not have nearly as many stories to tell.

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Miracle at Sea: The Rescue of Tony Bullimore

This is a suspenseful part re-enactment, part original footage of the sea rescue of the late Tony Bullimore from his upturned sailing yacht (The Exide Challenger) during the Vendee-Globe sol... Read all This is a suspenseful part re-enactment, part original footage of the sea rescue of the late Tony Bullimore from his upturned sailing yacht (The Exide Challenger) during the Vendee-Globe solo round the world yacht race. Bullimore had been trapped for four days in the upturned hul... Read all This is a suspenseful part re-enactment, part original footage of the sea rescue of the late Tony Bullimore from his upturned sailing yacht (The Exide Challenger) during the Vendee-Globe solo round the world yacht race. Bullimore had been trapped for four days in the upturned hull of his 18 m yacht when the Royal Australian Navy located the yacht, not knowing if Bulli... Read all

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Likhoy in Rostov Oblast Destination Guide Russia

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Likhoy in Rostov Oblast, Russia

Safety Score: 4,4 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning please reconsider your need to travel to Russia.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Russia . Last Update: 2024-08-13 08:21:03

Discover Likhoy

Likhoy in Rostov Oblast with it's 3,102 citizens is a town in Russia about 538 mi (or 866 km) south of Moscow, the country's capital city.

Current time in Likhoy is now 04:25 AM (Wednesday). The local timezone is named Europe / Moscow with an UTC offset of 3 hours. We know of 7 airports near Likhoy, of which one is a larger airport. The closest is airport we know is Luhansk International Airport in Ukraine in a distance of 43 mi (or 70 km). The closest airport in Russia is Rostov-na-Donu Airport in a distance of 63 mi (or 70 km), North-West. Besides the airports, there are other travel options available (check left side).

When in this area, you might want to pay a visit to some of the following locations: Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Krasnyy Sulin, Kamenolomni, Krasnodon and Sverdlovs'k. To further explore this place, just scroll down and browse the available info.

Local weather forecast

Todays local weather conditions & forecast: 34°c / 94 °f.

Thursday, 22nd of August 2024

36°C (96 °F) 28°C (82 °F) Broken clouds, moderate breeze.

Friday, 23rd of August 2024

35°C (96 °F) 29°C (84 °F) Overcast clouds, moderate breeze.

Saturday, 24th of August 2024

34°C (93 °F) 27°C (81 °F) Sky is clear, moderate breeze, clear sky.

Videos from this area

These are videos related to the place based on their proximity to this place.

Departing from Lihaya station. View from train window.

Published: March 14, 2010 Length: 01:13 min Rating: 5 of 5 Author: Sergei Gaidukov

The video is filmed from the train #217 "Anapa - Moscow"

Arriving at Lihaya station. View from train window.

Published: March 13, 2010 Length: 34:55 min Rating: 5 of 5 Author: Sergei Gaidukov

The video is filmed from the train #217 "Anapa-Moscow"

Nationwide popular locations

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Smaller cities in the vicinity

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