Commander Abhilash Tomy, who became the first Indian to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation, is all set for a second such adventure in a non-motorised sailboat.
Thirty-eight-year-old Commander Tomy, posted at the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre (INWTC), Mumbai, had hit the headlines in March 2013 when he covered 23,000 nautical miles in five months in INSV Mhadei.
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The challenge that now awaits Commander Tomy is the 30,000-mile Golden Globe Race (GGR) to be flagged off on July 1. There are 18 skippers at the start line and Commander Tomy is a special invitee at the race.
Golden Globe Race is being held to commemorate the world's first successful solo circumnavigation which saw sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston completing an unassisted, non-stop trip around the globe in 312 days. Commander Tomy is aiming to complete the race in 311 days.
According to officials, the biggest challenge of GGR is to have the equipment and boat which resembles the one used by Sir Knox-Johnston, despite the progress in technology. Navigation will have to be done looking at celestial objects and using physical maps. Communication with the outside world will also be limited as the lone satellite phone is to be used only in case of medical emergency.
Starting from Les Sables d'Olonne in France, skippers will go south till Cape of Good Hope, continue sailing eastward in the southern hemisphere to pass the international dateline, and pass Cape of Horn to start sailing north in the Atlantic Ocean for the final leg.
Commander Tomy will be sailing in the 10-metre 'Thuriya', whose design is similar to Sir Knox-Johnston's boat 'Suhaili',which was incidentally manufactured in Colaba, Mumbai. 'Thuriya' has been built at Goa at Ratnakar Dandekar's Aquarius Shipyard.
Commander Tomy is being supported by the Indian Navy and Aquarius Shipyard for the race, while Commander (Retd) Dilip Donde, the first Indian to circumnavigate the world with stops, will be overseeing the trip as the base manager.
"At the Sagarparikrama (the first circumnavigation), I had used GPS-based maps and other satellite-based technologies. But at GGR, I have to make do with a compass, printed maps, and star and planetary movements. There is a solitary HF radio set for contact. The size of the boat limits the possibility to carry water. Sir Robin had used rain water, I will have to do the same. There is no help from the outside world throughout the race," Commander Tomy said.
In May, a six-member women crew of Indian Navy completed 254 days of circumnavigation in INSV Tarini.