THE courageous bid by Rockingham quadraplegic yachtsman Jamie Dunross to sail solo around Australia took off on Thursday.
Jamie set sail from Rockingham on the first leg of the journey in the yacht Spirit of Rockingham in strong 27-knot winds.
If the voyage is a success it will be a starting point for his 12-year goal of solo circumnavigating the world.
Reaching this stage of that goal as the first quadraplegic to attempt such a voyage has not been easy for the 44-year-old Paralympic gold medallist; lack of sponsorship and the preparation and cost of a specially designed yacht and equipment has resulted in a time-consuming and frustrating wait for him.
Jamie will head down the coast and set course for Hobart on the first leg of his historic journey which will take two to three weeks to complete; the entire journey is expected to take five months.
He said he was physically ready for the rigours of the journey and the yacht was as well-prepared as it could be.
There were hugs and kisses from his family and partner Jahn, along with best wishes of his many supporters.
Among them were members of the crew who sailed with Jamie in the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and helped win the gold medal for Australia.
People who want to check on Jamie’s progress can visit the website www.solo.com.au, where a tracking device gives his position every 10 minutes.