The ‘will he, won’t he’ question seems set to be answered when, at noon local time tomorrow, 1 May, Tony Bullimore, sailing the 102ft cat Doha 2006, is scheduled to leave Hobart, Tasmania, for his attempt at the 71-day solo round the world record.

So what are his chances of success? One thing he will not be short of is wind as he sets out across the world’s wildest ocean in the depths of winter. Not just wind, but big seas – in fact today’s forecast for the deep south show several systems with winds in excess of 50 knots and waves over 30 feet. Now is this bravery or foolhardiness? A 68-year old sailing a maxi cat solo through the worst weather on the planet makes me think the latter.