Tony Bullimore: Sailor who was 'legend on the water and the music scene' dies aged 79

He became world famous in 1997 after he survived four days in the hull of his capsized boat in the freezing waters of the Southern Ocean

Before his sailing exploits Bullimore hosted stars including Bob Marley and Ben E King in his Bristol nightclub in the 1960s and 70s (Hulton Archive)

The sailor and entrepreneur Tony Bullimore has died at the age of 79, according to reports.

Bullimore became world famous after he survived for four days in the upturned hull of his boat when it capsized in the freezing waters of the Southern Ocean in 1997.

He was a founding member of the Bamboo Club in Bristol, which he opened with wife, Lalel, in 1966.

The 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.

Bullimore rose to fame in 1996, when he capsized abd was rescued while taking part in the Vendee Globe single-handed around the world race. Several competitors in that race also got into trouble, including one, Gary Roufs, who died.

Then on 5 January 1997 he capsized in his boat Exide Challenger. He was approximately 900 miles from Antarctica and 1,400 miles off the coast of Australia. The then 57-year-old sailor was feared to have drowned – and reported as such in the media – after his weather-battered and upturned yacht

He was dramatically rescued four days later by the Australian navy. Naval crews found Bullimore underneath the hull of the vessel where he had been surviving in a makeshift hammock inside the cabin, existing on meagre rations of chocolate and water.

At the time, an Australian military spokesman said his survival was “remarkable”.

Bristol’s Lord Mayor Cleo Lake paid tribute to 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”.

PA