Bruce Arms chasing record

by Owen Jacques

BRUCE Arms, top sailing supporter to round-the-world solo sailor Jessica Watson, could break a world record of his own after keeping up a cracking pace in the Solo Trans-Tasman yacht race.

Arms, on Big Wave Rider, is currently about a day and a half ahead of his nearest competitor and is in line to break the world record for the crossing.

However, the waning wind could wash out his goal.

Speaking to the Daily while he was about 337nm from Mooloolaba and travelling about 8nm per hour, Arms said it was up to the weather gods if he was to take the record on his third attempt.

He said his voyage from New Plymouth in New Zealand had been challenging as he endured the monotony of calm conditions and kept sails in place even as the yacht was battered by fast-moving storms.

“It changes very quickly,” he said via satellite phone.

But with the competition lagging so far behind, it was the world record and his counterpart in the Indian Ocean, Watson, that he was focusing on.

“It's pretty satisfying, I'm pretty happy about the competition,” he said.

“Jessica is quite fascinated with my race and I'm keeping an eye on her. It's been quite fun.

“We've had the same conditions even in different oceans.

“I'm not homesick but it will be very nice to be back on land and we're all excited about having Jess back.”

The two have regular contact each day either through email or telephone, with each updating the other one with problems and asking advice.

“I can give her some advice and she can give some to me, now that she's so experienced,” Arms said.

Arms is hoping for the wind to pick up

“If it comes to the south, we could have a chance at the record,” he said.


Sunshine Coast Daily