Abhilash Tomy

Commander
Abhilash Tomy
Kirti Chakra
Born (1979-02-05) 5 February 1979
Chethipuzha, Kottayam, Kerala, India
Allegiance Indian Navy
Years of service 2000 - Present
Rank
Awards

Commander Abhilash Tomy, Kirti Chakra (born 5 Feb 1979) is the first Indian and second Asian to have sailed around the earth solo, non-stop and unassisted.Tomy wrote a new chapter in India’s Maritime history by becoming the first Indian to Circumnavigate the Earth under sails - solo, nonstop and unassisted. He had set sail out of Mumbai on November 1, 2012 in the sail boat INSV Mhadei to undertake a voyage, no Indian had attempted before. [1] A naval aviator, Abhilash was attracted to seafaring and adventure at a young age.[2] Tomy is a reconnaissance pilot in the Indian Navy. He was born in Chethipuzha in Kerala and his father is a retired Naval officer as well. Joined in Indian Navy in 2000, he has sailed more than 52,000 nautical miles in his 18-year career. By sail on the custom-built Indian Navy vessel INSV Mhadei, Tomy embarked on his first circumnavigation mission in November 2012. He covered 23,000 nautical miles and sailed for 151 days during the mission. He was received in Indian port by then-Indian President Pranab Mukherjee at the end of his journey. During the Sagar Parikrama, he faced a shortage of water which left him with just 15 litres of fresh water for the last 15 days of his journey. Using his resources to the best of his abilities, he resorted to rainwater harvesting for the rest of the voyage. He received the Kirti Chakra in 2013, which is the second highest peacetime gallantry award in India for his solo circumnavigation trip.His Kirti Chakra award was the first for the Indian Navy in 39 years. He has represented India in several international events including the Cape Town to Rio Yacht Race, the Spanish Copa del Rey and the Korea Cup.[3]

Preparation and prior voyages

The voyage was a part of the Indian Navy's project Sagar Parikrama, initiated by Vice-Admiral M.P. Awati (Retd.). The first stage of the project involved a solo circumnavigation under sail which would not be non-stop. This was accomplished by Commander Dilip Donde, a clearance diver of the Indian Navy. Cdr. Donde completed his trip on 19 May 2010, sailing over a period of nine months.[4][5] Tomy was Donde's shore support during this journey which included four stops.[6] The second phase of the project, called Sagar Parikrama-II, was Tomy's non-stop circumnavigation. His preparations included training voyages with a crew, and a first solo sailing expedition from Cape Town, South Africa to Goa. Preparations for the journey included food supplies of specially-packed freeze dry food, and a consignment from the Defence Food Research Laboratory in Mysore.[7]

The vessel

INSV Mhadei

The boat used in both circumnavigations of the Sagar Parikrama project was the Indian Navy Sailing Vessel INSV Mhadei, custom built by the Indian Navy. The sloop is 56 feet long, and was built under Donde's supervision,[7] by Ratnakar Dandekar at the boat yard of M/s Aquarius Fiberglas Pvt Ltd at Divar. The vessel was handed over to the Indian Navy in February 2009. The yacht was christened INSV Mhadei, the river Mhadei being the origin of the Mandovi River in Goa.[8]

Solo circumnavigation

Tomy began his journey in Mumbai, from the Gateway of India, on 1 November 2012. He crossed, from West to East, the Indian, Pacific, Southern and Atlantic Oceans, covering 23,100 nautical miles, rounding Cape Leeuwin in Australia, Cape Horn in South America and Cape of Good Hope in Africa.[9] The journey took 151 days and was completed on 31 March 2013.[10] On 6 April 2013, a ceremony was held in his honour, where he was officially received by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. Mukherjee stated, "I am sure that this achievement of Lt Cmdr Abhilash Tomy will continue to be a source of inspiration for future generations of young seafarers. His epic voyage has placed our nation into the ranks of a few select countries whose citizens have been successful in braving such an arduous voyage."[11] Tomy became the first Indian and second Asian after Minoru Saito to complete such a journey.[7]

During the journey, Tomy faced a shortage of drinking water because of the failure of the on-board reverse osmosis water-treatment plant about a third of the way into the journey, and a diesel leak which contaminated his stored water and sealed bottles. He was left with approximately 15 litres of fresh water to last him the remaining 15 days of the journey, and resorted to rain water harvesting and conservation of water for the rest of the voyage. Weather encountered during the trip included winds averaging 30 knots, 3 to 4-meter swells in the Southern Ocean, and one instance at the Cape of Good Hope with wind-speeds of 70 knots and 10-meter waves.[12]

While at sea, Tomy's activities included boat-related work, cooking, reading books, and communicating through e-mails with friends and colleagues.[13] He began his day with Shambhavi Mahamudra, a meditation.[12] In his words, "I used to begin my day in the yacht with meditation. I used to check the weather report regularly and prepared myself for the worst. I would sleep for half-an-hour, wake up, read, check the boat and take a nap again."[13] He had not sighted human beings for a period of 130 days, his last sighting being a group of Sri Lankan fisherman. Tomy reported that immigration officers who stamped his passport when he arrived in India after completing the journey were confused when they noticed that his passport contained no immigration stamps indicating a country of arrival after he left India at the beginning of his journey.[6]

Golden Globe Race

Abhilash Tomy, started on this nonstop, 30,000-mile solo yachting competition that bars the use of modern technology on July 1, 2018 from Les Sables-d'Olonne[14]. He was one of the 18 sailors participating in the 2018 Golden Globe Race. On Sept 21, 2018, his yacht "Thuriya" dismasted in a mishap in the Indian Ocean, injuring him. He was stranded 3,200 km off the coast of Western Australia after his incident[15]. In a rescue operation, lead by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Canberra, Australia, with help from Australian, French and Indian naval vessels and other yachts from the competition, Abhilash was rescued on 24th Sep by the French fishing vessel, Osiris[16][17].


Other Notable Achievements

  • He has spoken to students regarding the protection and conservation of the world's oceans.[18]
  • He has represented India in several international events including the Cape Town to Rio Yacht Race, the Spanish Copa del Rey and the Korea Cup.
  • Tomy also trained the all-woman crew of the INSV Tarini, which undertook the Navika Sagar Parikrama mission -- the first time circumnavigation of the globe by an all women crew.
  • Commander Tomy is one of the five special invitees to the GGR and the only Asian sailor in the competition. He is sailing with 1,000 ready-to-eat meals, 300 litres of water and 140 litres of fuel.
  • He had set out on the GGR with the mission of breaking Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s successful completion of a similar voyage in 312 days in 1968-69.

Military awards and decorations

Kirti Chakra
Operation Vijay Star Medal
Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal
Sainya Seva Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

References

  1. ↑ "Abhilash Tomy Creates Maritime History".
  2. ↑ "Official website of Tony".
  3. ↑ "Who is Indian Navy Commander Abhilash Tomy?".
  4. ↑ "First Indian to Circumnavigate the Globe Solo ,Non stop and Unassisted : Abhilash Tomy".
  5. ↑ "Back Home!". 31 May 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  6. 1 2 Chandrashekaran, Gitanjali (7 April 2013). "Come hell or high water". Mumbai Mirror. Times News Network. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 Anandan, S (28 March 2013). "After a solo voyage round the world, hero's welcome awaits Tomy". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Indian Navy Sailing Vessel Mhadei ready for solo sail around globe". Times of India. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  9. ↑ "Navy officer Abhilash Tomy becomes first Indian to circumnavigate the globe solo and non-stop". Deccan Chronicle. 6 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  10. ↑ Dara, Neha. "Can I go back for another round?". National Geographic Traveller. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "Abhilash Tomy: First Indian to circumnavigate the globe solo, non-stop, Slide 4". Economic Times. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Sailing Solo Around The World? Shambhavi Mahamudra Can Help". Isha Blog. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  13. 1 2 Bose, Adrija (29 April 2013). "Meet Abhilash Tomy, the first Indian to complete solo circumnavigation". First Post. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Injured Indian sailor rescued from ocean". BBC News. 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  15. ↑ "Injured Indian sailor rescued from ocean". BBC News. 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  16. ↑ "Commander Tomy's rescue operation LIVE: Injured naval officer rescued by French vessel Osiris". The Indian Express. 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  17. ↑ CNN, Bard Wilkinson,. "Abhilash Tomy rescued after severe injuries at sea". CNN. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  18. ↑ "Student fans get to meet Abhilash Tomy – the Real Pi". New Indian Express. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.


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