Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

Abhilash Tomy, KC, NM (Retd) is a retired Indian Navy officer,

naval aviator Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases. Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...

and

yachtsman A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...

. In 2013, he became the first Indian to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world under sail. He also competed in the 2018 Golden Globe Race. In January 2021, he retired from military service to concentrate on the 2022 Golden Globe Race. He finished second in the race, becoming the only Asian skipper to win a podium finish in a round the world race.

Early life and education

Abhilash Tomy is one of the two sons born to

Lieutenant commander Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding rank i ...

V. C. Tomy, a former Naval Officer, and Valsamma. Abhilash Tomy was born in Chethipuzha Hospital, Changanacherry in

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

. Abhilash has a brother Aneesh Tomy. Upon completing his schooling, he joined the

Naval Academy A naval academy provides education for prospective naval officers. See also * Military academy A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally pro ...

Goa Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...

, from where he was commissioned into the navy in the year 2000. He completed his flying training in 2002, qualifying as a maritime reconnaissance pilot on the

Dornier 228 The Dornier 228 is a twin-turboprop STOL utility aircraft, designed and first manufactured by Dornier GmbH (later DASA Dornier, Fairchild-Dornier) from 1981 until 1998. Two hundred and forty-five were built in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. In 19 ...

Sailing career

Prior to his solo circumnavigation of the globe (which was called ''Sagar Parikrama 2''), Tomy had represented India in several international events including the 2011 Cape Town to Rio Race, Enterprise World Championships, Asian Sailing Championship etc. In 2006, based on a proposal by Vice Admiral MP Awati, the navy authorised the construction of the INSV ''Mhadei'', a sailboat, which was then sailed solo around the world by Cdr Dilip Donde in 2009-10, making four stops -

Fremantle Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for ...

, Lyttelton,

Port Stanley Stanley (; also known as Port Stanley) is the capital city of the Falkland Islands. It is located on the island of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope in one of the wettest parts of the islands. At the 2016 census, the city had a populat ...

and

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

. This voyage was called the ''Sagar Parikrama'', and Tomy was chosen as its shore support crew, helping Donde stock up supplies at the four ports. Based on this experience, and his sailing expertise, he was chosen to helm ''Sagar Parikrama 2'', a non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe, under sail. To prepare him for this role, in 2011, he and Cdr Dilip Donde participated in the Cape Town to Rio Race. On the return leg, Tomy sailed doubled handed from Rio to Cape Town and single handed from Cape Town to Goa. He also sailed to Malaysia and Thailand, with a crew of three. On 1 November 2012, Tomy and the ''Mhadei'' departed from the

Gateway of India The Gateway of India is an arch-monument built in the early 20th century in the city of Mumbai (Bombay), India. It was erected to commemorate the landing of King-Emperor George V, the first British monarch to visit India, in December 1911 at ...

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...

. After completing a voyage of 23,100 nautical miles, he returned to Mumbai on 31 March 2013, having sailed around the

Cape of Good Hope The Cape of Good Hope ( af, Kaap die Goeie Hoop ) ;''Kaap'' in isolation: pt, Cabo da Boa Esperança is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. A common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope is t ...

Cape Horn Cape Horn ( es, Cabo de Hornos, ) is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island. Although not the most southerly point of South America (which are the Diego Ramírez ...

and

Cape Leeuwin Cape Leeuwin is the most south-westerly (but not most southerly) mainland point of the Australian continent, in the state of Western Australia. Description A few small islands and rocks, the St Alouarn Islands, extend further in Flinders Ba ...

. He became the only Indian, second Asian, and 79th person to accomplish this feat. A ceremonial reception was given by the President of India

Shri Pranab Mukherjee Dr. Pranab Mukherjee (11 December 193531 August 2020) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the 13th president of India from 2012 until 2017. In a political career spanning five decades, Mukherjee was a senior leader in the India ...

at the Gateway of India on 6 April 2013. Abhilash was a special invitee and the only Asian entrant in the 2018 edition of the solo non-stop round-the-world

Golden Globe Race The ''Sunday Times'' Golden Globe Race was a non-stop, single-handed sailing, single-handed, circumnavigation, round-the-world yacht racing, yacht race, held in 1968–1969, and was the first round-the-world yacht race. The race was controversi ...

. After 82 days, while in 3rd position, Abhilash's boat was damaged in a storm, and he suffered a severe injury to his spine. He was rescued after a multinational rescue effort.

2022 Golden Globe Race

Abhilash took premature retirement from the Indian Navy in January 2021 to prepare for the 2022 Golden Globe Race. Due to

back injuries Back injuries result from damage, wear, or trauma to the bones, muscles, or other tissues of the back. Common back injuries include sprains and strains, herniated discs, and fractured vertebrae. The lumbar spine is often the site of back pain. ...

sustained from his previous Golden Globe attempt, Abhilash took this journey with a titanium rod inserted in his spine. He finished second in the race and become the first Asian to do so. Abhilash's sailing commenced on 4 September 2022 from

Les Sables-D'Olonne Les Sables-d'Olonne (; French meaning: "The Sands of Olonne"; Poitevin: ''Lés Sablles d'Oloune'') is a seaside town in Western France, on the Atlantic Ocean. A subprefecture of the department of Vendée, Pays de la Loire, it has the administ ...

, France and finished on 29 April 2023 after sailing non-stop for 236 days.

Personal life

Abhilash Tomy is married to Urmimala Nag who hails from

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...

. The couple has two sons—Vedaant and Abhraneil.

Awards and decorations

* Kirti Chakra – 2013 (Second officer in the navy to be awarded KC) * Nau Sena Medal 2019 * YAI Offshore Sailor of the Year 2009, 2013, 2018 * Amrita TV Award for Outstanding Human Endurance and Courage – 2013 *

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, formerly known as the National Adventure Awards is the highest adventure sports honour of the Republic of India. The award is named after Tenzing Norgay, one of the first two individuals to reach th ...

-2012 * Only Indian in the International Association of Cape Horners * Mac Gregor Medal for military reconnaissance – 2013 * CNS Commendation 2009 * National Maritime Foundation Award

Achievements

* Only Indian and 2nd Asian to sail solo, non stop, around the earth * Runner-up at the 2022 Golden Globe Race * Shore support for Sagar Parikrama I (Navy’s first solo circumnavigation expedition) * Yacht Services Manager of Volvo Ocean Race 2008 stopover at Kochi * Podium finishes in Korea Cup 2014 and 2015 * Bronze medal in YAI Nationals 2015 * Author of "151 Solitary Days at Sea, Sailing Non-stop, Around the World", "Kadal Ottakku Kshanichappol" and "Journey to the Edge of the Earth" * Council member of the Yachting Association of India

References

External links

Ted Talk

Sailing Across the Globe
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomy, Abhilash Single-handed circumnavigating sailors Indian Navy officers 1979 births Living people Recipients of the Kirti Chakra Recipients of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award Recipients of the MacGregor Medal Indian naval aviators Kirti Chakra Recipients of the Nau Sena Medal