After the successful completion of the first solo circumnavigation of the world (Sagar Parikrama I) by Cdr Dilip Donde in 2009-10, an assisted journey with four stops and completed in 276 days, Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Mhadei is now undertaking the second solo circumnavigation of the globe under sail, named Sagar Parikrama II, skippered by Lt Cdr Abhilash Tomy of the Indian Navy in an unassisted, non-stop voyage.

The solo circumnavigation of the globe under sail is to project India's glorious maritime history and was first mooted by Vice Admiral Manohar Awati, who retired as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Western Naval Command, in the year 2006.

INSV Mhadei was flagged off from Goa on 30 October 2012 for Mumbai, from where she sailed on November 1, 2012 for Sagar Parikrama II on a journey expected to last six months. INSV Mhadei is a 56 ft sloop constructed at the boat yard of M/s Aquarius Fiberglas Pvt Ltd at Divar, Goa and handed over to the Indian Navy in February 2009. In a fitting tribute to the place where the boat was constructed, the Indian Navy named the yacht INSV Mhadei, after the river Mhadei, the origin of river Mandovi.

In this voyage, INSV Mhadei would be sailed single handedly around the globe, south of all the great capes viz Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope, covering a distance of 21600 nautical miles, crossing the equator twice, and starting and finishing its circumnavigation from the port of Mumbai.

To put the enormity of this effort in perspective, it is worth noting that while approximately 5000 people have summited Mount Everest and 500 have gone into outer space, only 181 individuals have solo circumnavigated the globe and of this only 80 or so have made it without any stops.

Lt Cdr Tomy, a maritime reconnaissance pilot by specialisation with 1300 hours flying, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 2000. A yachtsman by hobby, he has taken part in various national and international regattas. In 2008, he was appointed as the Yacht Services Manager for the Volvo Ocean Race Stopover at Kochi and in 2009 had volunteered to assist the skipper of INSV Mhadei during Sagar Parikrama I. He has logged approximately 27000 miles of ocean sailing of which 25000 miles are on the Mhadei.
The progress of INSV Mhadei on Sagar Parikrama II can be followed on the internet on the links below:

Facebook - www.facebook.com/www.mhadei.co.in
Blog - www.sagarparikrama2.blogspot.com
YouTube Channel - Sagarparikrama2

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