'Missing' yachtsman safe and well

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/bristol/6161700.stm

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Yachtsman Tony Bullimore has made contact after 11 days of silence.

Mr Bullimore, 67, from Bristol, had been sailing across the Indian Ocean when his catamaran's satellite phone went down on 7 November.

The radio silence prompted coastguards to look for Mr Bullimore and his crew of three, who were heading to Australia ahead of a new round-the-world attempt.

Mr Bullimore made contact with his wife on Saturday morning after coming close enough to land to get a mobile signal.

Record attempt

Shipping had been alerted to look out for Mr Bullimore's 102ft vessel after his team admitted they had no idea where he was.

On Saturday he made a brief call to his wife, Lalel, before switching off his phone to conserve its limited battery power.

Explaining their lack of communication, Mr Bullimore 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."

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

Ten years ago Mr Bullimore was rescued from inside his capsized yacht in a remote corner of the Southern Ocean.

The former Royal Marine won international fame after surviving on "sheer determination, a little water and a little chocolate" for five days in the upturned hull of his boat.