SEA IS THE REAL HERO..... Interview with Cdr Abhilash Tomy

For Commander Abhilash Tomy, the first Indian to finish Golden Globe Race, the journey has been one rife with challenges. In September 2018, Commander Abhilash Tomy lay half dead in the middle of the southern Indian Ocean after his boat was struck with a storm. Five years later, the retired Indian Navy officer completed the same race. Cdr Abhilash Tomy spoke to this blogger from Paris, immediately after he touched the shore after an 8 months  long, solo expedition 

?. What was the first emotion that came into your mind when you saw shore after 236 days?

I felt an immense sense of relief having completed the race. Both the boat and I were very tired after 8 months of sailing. I also had achieved what I had set out to, which was to finish an unfinished business. 

?. What makes you happier, that you finished or that you finished second behind a strong woman? 

Finishing!

?.Tell us more about those days in the sea. How did you spend your time? Did you get enough sleep? Is there any particularly interesting or scary incident to share?

During those days in the sea, my time was primarily spent sailing and managing the various aspects of my boat. I did try to stick to a routine, starting with breakfast and ending in dinner, and in between focussing on sunsights for navigation, trimming sails, looking out for weather information etc.The race demanded immense focus and dedication, so my days were occupied with navigating, monitoring the weather conditions, and making necessary adjustments to ensure the smooth progress of my voyage. It was a constant balancing act to optimize speed while conserving energy and supplies.

Getting enough sleep was indeed a challenge. With the demanding nature of the race, I had to adopt a polyphasic sleep pattern, which involved taking short naps of around 20 minutes throughout the day and night. This allowed me to rest and recharge while maintaining vigilance over my boat's performance and safety.

One particular sight I enjoyed a lot and wont forget is the sight of the moon rising behind the Table Mountain at night.

However, there was also a scary incident that I faced during the race. At one point, I encountered a violent storm with powerful winds and towering waves. The intense weather conditions tested my skills as a sailor and pushed my boat to its limits.I had a few failures, the most critical of which was damage to the self steering. This happened close to Cape Horn.

Overall, my time in the sea during the Golden Globe Race was a mix of awe-inspiring moments, challenging circumstances, and personal triumphs. It was an incredible adventure that pushed me to my limits and taught me valuable lessons about resilience, self-reliance, and the indomitable spirit of human exploration.

?.It is tough to stay mentally alone for a long time, especially in a rough sea. How did you manage the fight of your mind and brain on that long trip?

Staying mentally strong during the long and solitary journey at sea was challenging. To manage the fight of my mind and brain, I followed a disciplined routine, practiced meditation, and engaged in mental stimulation like reading and creative activities. The support from loved ones and fellow racers, along with maintaining a positive mindset, helped me overcome loneliness and find strength in the beauty of the journey.

?.It was a ‘rationed’ life at sea. The food, water, communication, everything was limited. Of course, you are from a Navy background. Tell us about your food habit during your voyage. 

My overall requirement for food was calculated to be 60,000 calories over 8 months. To achieve this I carried food in various forms. I had various types of meat in tins, rice which I cooked daily, freeze-dried food and food packets gifted by DFRL. To supplement, I had soups, snacks such as peanuts and cashewnuts etc. 

 

?. Cdr. Abhilash, the willpower you showed in your life is remarkable. You met with an accident in the 2018 race, fractured your spine, and returned strongly this year. How did you manage it?

I think that’s all a part of our naval training and anyone else in my shoes would have done the same. 

?. What was your thought immediately after that accident? Were you disappointed or shattered?

I just saw it as another incident in my life. I tried to cry but I ended up laughing about the whole affair. As soon as I realised there was nothing else for me to do, I started planning my next race.

?. Who supported you the most for this comeback? 

I will not attribute it to one person or organisation. It took a lot of people and a lot of time to get me back here.

-The credit definitely goes to the rescuers who managed it so well that my spinal chord remained intact. 

- The doctors who operated my spine and did a fantastic job

- my family,ie, my dad and mom, brother, wife, son, uncle and aunt who not only looked after me but also gave me the moral courage to recover quickly and go back to sea

- The Navy, which was not only involved with the rescue but also gave me time off to recover

- A long list of physiotherapists who helped with the recovery post surgery

?.How did Abhilash Tomy have attracted to the sea and sailing? 

This happened in childhood when I watched a documentary on the voyage of the Trishna. Besides this, while growing up I read many books on sailing adventures.

?. Did you ever worry about your family back home, and did you miss your kids while sailing?

This was one of my biggest worries. GGR rules do not permit contact with family through satellite phone. HF radio stations which existed in 1968 do not work anymore and that was not a viable option to contact families. It was frustrating to sail for so many months without knowing what is happening at home and how kids and family were faring. Yes, I did miss my kids!

?. What do you want to do after reaching back to India? Is it going for a trip with family or planning your next solo sail? 

At the moment the mind is a blank. I need to spend some time with my family and there are a lot of people I need to thank, and these are people that helped me come back to the race. 

?. Who is the real protagonist in the race? Is it you or the Bayanat?

It is the sea

?. Now you are back on shore. Do you miss your boat?

Not much, but I do miss the sea and the sense of freedom it gives.

?. It’s a time of climate change. You have crossed the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean. You have crossed these oceans even many times before. How did you experience climate change during your sail? Have you found any changes in the sea in these years?

I have noticed a lot of changes in the sea compared to 2012-13 when I did my first circumnavigation. The temperatures have been warmer, high and low-pressure systems have been more intense and the storms are getting worse. I have seen flying fish at 40-41 South, sargasso weed all over the north Atlantic, and I even got sunburnt at 40 deg South

?. What’s your advice for others who wish to take challenges?

It took me about 25 years to reach where I am. It is a long process. Anyone wants to do something like this needs a lot of patience and hard work. 

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