Paralympics Gold Medallist DUNROSS Claims Record

West Australian Paralympics gold medallist turned solo sailor Jamie DUNROSS OAM claimed another record for the longest distance ever sailed by a quadriplegic when he sailed his yacht into Albany last Wednesday 15 April 2009.

Jamie DUNROSS (AUS), who set out from Fremantle on Easter Saturday completed 336 nautical miles (as the albatross flies) and was at sea for over four days, breaking a previous record of 223 nautical miles in 46 hours which he set sailing from Fremantle to Geraldton.

After a ‘night in hell’ DUNROSS spoke by satphone off Windy Harbour describing the previous night as the most terrifying of his life when, in 30 knot winds and with 6m waves breaking over his yacht, he had to remain on deck to hand steer for hours when his electric steering equipment failed.

DUNROSS, who, in 1988 aged 23, broke his neck while working on a minesite, has no leg function and only limited arm and hand function. He is heavily reliant on electronics for steerage and winches to operate the sails of his 34′ yacht Spirit of Rockingham which is the same Sparkman and Stephens design sailed twice around the world by his friend and mentor Jon Sanders.

The solo passage to Albany brings DUNROSS closer in preparation for his planned solo circumnavigation of Australia.