Panaji: In recognition of his historic feat, Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Monday felicitated former naval officer Commander Abhilash Tomy (retd), who became the first Indian to successfully finish the Golden Globe Race (GGR) 2022, at Goa.
On April 29, Cdr Tomy created history by finishing second in GGR 2022 and also became the first Asian to finish the race.
He sailed for 236 days 14 hours and 46 minutes since his cast off on 04 September 2022, to return to Les Sables-d’Olonne, France behind Kirsten Neuschafer of South Africa.
Prior to this, in 2013, Cdr Tomy became the first Indian to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world under sail onboard INSV Mhadei.
He also took part in GGR 2018, but had to withdraw owing to a debilitating back injury sustained in a storm enroute.
Five years later, with a titanium rod in his spine and five fused vertebrae, he has aced the test of human spirit and exhibited rare endurance, grit and determination in GGR 2022.
GGR is conducted in honour of Sir Robin Knox Johnston, the first sailor ever to complete the solo non-stop circumnavigation race in 1968.
16 entrants were to participate in GGR 2022 and undertake the circumnavigation race with equipment and technology pre-dating 1968.
Only three participants including Cdr Tomy could finally finish the race, the balance retiring midway owing to technical failures or accidents.
Cdr Abhilash Tomy has recently taken over mentor and coach to the two naval women officers preparing for a solo circumnavigation voyage as the Indian Navy’s next edition of Sagar Parikrama.'
