Indian attempts non-stop solo trip across seven seas
12 Jan 2013 6:17 AM IST
A 33-year-old pilot with the Indian Navy is currently sailing somewhere in the South Pacific as part of his solo mission to circumnavigate the globe non-stop, which will make him the first Indian to do so if he succeeds.
Lt Commander Abhilash Tomy, who flies Dornier aircraft of the Indian Navy, developed a passion for sailing at a young age, says his father Lt Cmdr. (retd) V C Tomy, who is following his son’s trip on an hourly basis from his home here.
The naval officer set sail in his boat, named INSV Mhadei, on the solo non-stop trip around the seven seas from Mumbai on 1 November. He is expected to sail back to the city by 1 April.
Although the boat has an engine, it is being powered by winds in the high seas, the naval officer’s father said.
‘Every day we keep in touch through internet and his (Abhilash’s) plan is to reach Cape Horn in South America on 26 January. This sailing is a non-stop one,’ said the former naval officer, adding that at the moment his son is sailing ahead of schedule.
Commander Dilip Donde, who is Abhilash’s mentor, said he too embarked on the daunting journey across the world’s oceans in 2009 on the same INSV Mhadei but stopped four times before dropping the anchor. It took Donde nine months to complete the journey in 2010.
‘I was in the high seas for 157 days and covered around 23,000 nautical miles, while Abhilash is doing it non-stop. Once he finishes, he will be only the 80th person in the world to do so. Only around 200 people in the world have successfully completed the journey with stops,’ said Donde.
The young sailor’s father said that his son does not sleep more than an hour at a stretch.
‘When he gets tired, he puts the boat in an automatic steering mode and goes to sleep. He repeats the cycle as and when he gets tired,’ the former naval officer added.
Lt Commander Abhilash Tomy, who flies Dornier aircraft of the Indian Navy, developed a passion for sailing at a young age, says his father Lt Cmdr. (retd) V C Tomy, who is following his son’s trip on an hourly basis from his home here.
The naval officer set sail in his boat, named INSV Mhadei, on the solo non-stop trip around the seven seas from Mumbai on 1 November. He is expected to sail back to the city by 1 April.
Although the boat has an engine, it is being powered by winds in the high seas, the naval officer’s father said.
‘Every day we keep in touch through internet and his (Abhilash’s) plan is to reach Cape Horn in South America on 26 January. This sailing is a non-stop one,’ said the former naval officer, adding that at the moment his son is sailing ahead of schedule.
Commander Dilip Donde, who is Abhilash’s mentor, said he too embarked on the daunting journey across the world’s oceans in 2009 on the same INSV Mhadei but stopped four times before dropping the anchor. It took Donde nine months to complete the journey in 2010.
‘I was in the high seas for 157 days and covered around 23,000 nautical miles, while Abhilash is doing it non-stop. Once he finishes, he will be only the 80th person in the world to do so. Only around 200 people in the world have successfully completed the journey with stops,’ said Donde.
The young sailor’s father said that his son does not sleep more than an hour at a stretch.
‘When he gets tired, he puts the boat in an automatic steering mode and goes to sleep. He repeats the cycle as and when he gets tired,’ the former naval officer added.
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