Indian Navy officer Commander Abhilash Tomy, the only invitee from Asia for Golden Globe Race (GGR) 2018 on Sunday headed off on a unique voyage from Les Sables d’Olonne harbor in France.
The participants are required to sail around the world, single-handed and non-stop.
“What an amazing departure ! That a crowdy GGR 2018 start that as lived the 17 entrants today. Wind was a bit light but good enough to push the fleet, Philippe Péché leading the boats in front of Jean-Luc Van Den Heede and Mark Slats !,” the official Facebook page of GGR said.
The uniqueness of the race is that boat designs and technology newer than 1968 is not permitted, hence use of Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite communication, navigational aids among others are forbidden.
The Golden Globe Race is being conducted by Sir Robin Knox Johnston of UK to commemorate 50 years since the world’s first solo non-stop circumnavigation undertaken by him in 1968 onboard the Indian built boat, Suhaili.
Commander Tomy is one of India’s most prominent sailors. He has covered 53,000 nautical miles under sail, including a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in 2012-13 onboard Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Mhadei, the Indian Navy said.
He is also a recipient of the Kirti Chakra, Mac Gregor and Tenzing Norgay awards.
He is sailing on a replica of Suhaili. The indigenously built sailing vessel ‘Thuriya’ has been built by Aquarius Shipyard Ltd at Goa. The boat showcases India’s boat building capability on the world forum and promotes the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Thuriya stands for pure consciousness and is the background that transcends the three common states of consciousness, namely waking consciousness, dreaming and dreamless sleep.
The race is expected to complete at Les Sables d’Olonne in April 2019.
Progress of the race can be viewed on the official GGR website here.
Indian Navy officer Commander Abhilash Tomy, the only invitee from Asia for Golden Globe Race (GGR) 2018 on Sunday headed off on a unique voyage from Les Sables d’Olonne harbor in France.
The participants are required to sail around the world, single-handed and non-stop.
“What an amazing departure ! That a crowdy GGR 2018 start that as lived the 17 entrants today. Wind was a bit light but good enough to push the fleet, Philippe Péché leading the boats in front of Jean-Luc Van Den Heede and Mark Slats !,” the official Facebook page of GGR said.
The uniqueness of the race is that boat designs and technology newer than 1968 is not permitted, hence use of Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite communication, navigational aids among others are forbidden.
The Golden Globe Race is being conducted by Sir Robin Knox Johnston of UK to commemorate 50 years since the world’s first solo non-stop circumnavigation undertaken by him in 1968 onboard the Indian built boat, Suhaili.
Commander Tomy is one of India’s most prominent sailors. He has covered 53,000 nautical miles under sail, including a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in 2012-13 onboard Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Mhadei, the Indian Navy said.
He is also a recipient of the Kirti Chakra, Mac Gregor and Tenzing Norgay awards.
He is sailing on a replica of Suhaili. The indigenously built sailing vessel ‘Thuriya’ has been built by Aquarius Shipyard Ltd at Goa. The boat showcases India’s boat building capability on the world forum and promotes the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Thuriya stands for pure consciousness and is the background that transcends the three common states of consciousness, namely waking consciousness, dreaming and dreamless sleep.
The race is expected to complete at Les Sables d’Olonne in April 2019.
Progress of the race can be viewed on the official GGR website here.
