Retd Commander Abhilash Tomy to represent India once again at the Golden Globe Race 2022!

Bringing yet another reason to cheer in Goa, India's iconic sailor Abhilash Tomy is all set to participate in the 2022 edition of the Golden Globe Race (GGR). After a hiatus of three and a half years, the intrepid sailor is going to venture out in the ocean once again despite the disastrous accident in 2018 that almost left him paralysed. Notably, Commander (retd) Abhilash Tomy is the first and only Indian ever to have participated in this non-stop voyage, all by himself.

GGR 2022 to start off on September 4

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Apart from being the only Indian to have entered this grand voyage, Abhilash was also the first and only Asian to partake in this round-the-globe sailing race. The third edition of this worldwide competition is slated to start off on September 4 from Les Sables d'Olonne on the west coast of France. Announcing his entry into this year's Golden Globe Race at the Dubai Expo 2020, the retired Commander said, "3 and a half years later, I am heading back into the same race that almost got me killed."

UAE-based firm Bayanat to sponsor Tomy's race this year

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During his debut sail in the second edition of GGR back in 2018, a storm overtook Tomy in the southern Indian Ocean destroying his boat 'Thuriya' and leaving him immobile with a spinal injury. Notably, the veteran was sailing in third place before this mishap left the boat dismantled and the sailor, paralysed.

Abhilash was rescued after three long days in a multi-national effort by France, Australia and India. However, with immense perseverance and grit, the retired pilot of the Indian Navy went back to flying and sailing again. This time, the iconic sailor aims to cross the finish line in this 30,000 mile-long Golden Globe Race. Interestingly, the Indian Navy had sponsored Tomy's race in 2018 but this time the seafarer has the backing of Bayanat, a UAE-based geospatial artificial intelligence firm.

What is the Golden Globe Race?

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Golden Globe Race is a one-of-a-kind solo sailing race in which one has to circumnavigate the globe in a yacht without any kind of modern navigation technology. Modelled after the original race that was organised in 1968, the second edition of GGR was held in 2018 to go back to the golden age of solo sailing. Unlike any other race, in GGR, participants are allowed to use boats that are built with old-world specifications without using any modern gear. Sailors taking part in this competition can only use Sextants and paper charts to navigate in this race.