पत्र सूचना कार्यालय

Cdr Abhilash Tomy was born at Chengannacherry, Kerala, on 5 Feb 1979. He followed in the footsteps of his father, a naval officer, and joined the Indian Navy. On graduation from the Naval Academy in 1999, he specialized as a Maritime Reconnaissance pilot and served on board various ships and air squadrons.

            Abhilash found his calling for the sea and sailing when he was introduced to sailing dinghies at the Naval Academy. In a few years, he was competing at national sailing events. In 2008, he was deputed to Kochi as the Yacht Services Manager for the Volvo Ocean Race stopover, immediately after which he sailed onboard the sailing catamaran Eldemer from Salalah to Aden, with a pit stop in Mukalla.

            In March 2009, he volunteered to be Capt Dilip Donde's assistant for his solo circumnavigation, Sagar Parikrama I. On completion of the project in 2010, he sailed to Cape Town and participated in the Cape to Rio race from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro on 'INSV Mhadei'. Abhilash skippered 'Mhadei' from Rio, across the Atlantic, with one crew and sailed solo from Cape Town to Goa on a 33-day long voyage.

            On 1 November 2012, Abhilash set sail from Mumbai on 'INSV Mhadei'. Five months and 23,000 nautical miles later, on 31 March 2013, he was received by the President of India at the Gateway of India, becoming the first Indian and second Asian to complete a solo and non-stop circumnavigation.                                                              

            Since then, Abhilash was awarded the prestigious Kirti Chakra medal, Mac Gregor Medal, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award and many awards, written two books, inspired a host of young Indians, and taken part in various sailing competitions in India and abroad.

Appreciating his sailing abilities, the organizing committee of the Golden Globe Race 2018, extended a special invitation to him to participate in the race. He will be one of the three special invitees and the only Indian participating in the race, scheduled to start from Les Sables d’Olonne, France, on 01 Jul 2018.

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DKS

 

 

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