New Delhi: Retired Indian Naval officer Cdr Abhilash Tomy recorded a significant achievement in the world of solo sailing Friday by securing a second place finish in the 2022 edition of the Golden Globe Race.
The Indian Navy congratulated Cdr Tomy for his achievement Saturday, labelling the race as “the world’s most gruelling ocean sailing race using tools & aids replicating the limitations of the first race in 1968”.
A revival of the historic 1960s era Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, the Golden Globe Race is a solo around-the-world sailing event that starts and ends in the seaside town of Les Sables-d’Olonne in France.
The race was last held in 2018 and in keeping with 1960s technology, sailors are only allowed to use the same type or similar equipment and technology that the winner of the historic race, Robin Knox-Johnston, used back then on his yacht Suhaili.
“Yes, there are yacht design limitations, unlike the first Golden Globe, as this is also a salute to Suhaili, but if there were not, it would become just another competition to see who can get the best sponsorship,” the race rules state.
Moreover, participation is by invitation only and participants must have a minimum combined ocean sailing experience of 12,000 miles, of which 2,000 miles must be solo and another 2,000 miles done on the specific boat they are using for the race. The race is required to be non-stop, with those making one stop moved to the Chichester class — where sailors just get a separate memento to finish the race in that category — while those who make multiple stops are disqualified or “retired”.
The race organisers further mandated design specifications for retro fibreglass 32-36ft yachts, in keeping with the 1960s era rules. “Only the design is approved to compete in the race. The structural integrity, build quality, or suitability of any boat to survive the event will be the sole responsibility of the entrant,” the rules state.
However, not only are all the sailors competing in the race tracked via satellite at all times by the organisers, they are also provided with safety GPS equipment that they are only allowed to use in an emergency.
The ongoing edition of the Golden Globe Race began on 4 September last year and saw 16 sailors compete. Cdr Tomy was the sole Indian participating and was sponsored by Abu Dhabi-based predictive geospatial intelligence software startup Bayanat.
South Africa’s Kirsten Neuschafer won the race, having returned to Les Sables-d’Olonne Thursday. Austria’s Michael Guggenberger is expected to take the last podium position should he finish the race, because the remaining competitors either retired from the race or have been moved to the Chichester class.
This edition was Cdr Tomy’s second attempt at completing the race. In the 2018 edition, he was forced to retire after dismasting and suffering an injury near the island of New Amsterdam in the Southern Indian Ocean, according to media reports.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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