Abhalish Tomy, in one of the first extended interviews since he was rescued from his boat via stretcher in the southern Indian Ocean, said that he fell from atop the mast after he nearly was washed overboard in a 110 degree knockdown in a violent storm. Tomy was unable to move after his boat Thuriya a replica of Robin Knox-Johnston’s 1968 Golden Globe Race winning boat was dismasted. Tomy is the first Indian man to sail solo-nonstop around the world and was competing in the solo-sailing around the world 2018 Golden Globe Race.
Photo by Abhilash Tomy/GGR/PPL; Tomy climbs the mast in preparation for the 2018 Golden Globe Race.
Here is a quote from Indian Navy Commander Abhilash Tomy:
“It was scary as hell. When the first knockdown happened, I was swept off my feet. I fell down to the mast and put my hands around it. I got swept outward to the tip of the mast. And then a few seconds later when the boat straightened, I found myself hanging from the top of the mast. The hiccups haven’t stopped since the mishap. I have some problem in speaking because of that, My watch got entangled in it. I was hanging by one hand. I felt my wrist would crack. Then the watch strap snapped and I came crashing down to the boom attached to the mast on the deck.”
He went on to describe 150 kmph winds and 14-meter seas. His boat suffered from gas and diesel leaks that he could not stop, and his boat was uncontrollable in chaotic seas.
Unable to move after the storm, Tomy said he awaited rescue by meditating. “There were no thoughts in my mind during those 70 hours. That is something I have taught myself over the years. Thinking can lead to problems,” he told the Hindustan Times.
In YouTube time, the Slow Boat and its crew Linus and Daly, our beloved salty dog (RIP), are still in the Marquesas with two more episodes in that remote archipelago. There will likely be twelve total vlog episodes in the Marquesas in season 2, which I believe is a record for any sailing channel. That puts our backlog at about 1.5 years and climbing. S2E15 in Nuka Hiva is due out next week. Anna should be aboard for two to three more episodes before Janna and Sophie join the boat in Tahiti and Moorea.
Season 3 has been already filmed and is likely to have over a dozen episodes similar to season 1. (The 3,500 nautical mile offshore passage meant season 2 was longer than seasons 1 and 3). We have a sneak peak of season 3 in Tonga out, but the first episode likely won’t be released until we start filming season 4 in May through August 2019.
Because of the relative success of the channel’s coverage of the most interesting sailors in the world (who are not on the Slow Boat) and sailboat cruising news, I have no plans to go to two vlogs a month to clear up the backlog. The vlogs are actually some of the most difficult videos that I edit. They typically have 100 to 200 clips. While we aim to put out high quality videos, success in the very crowded market for sailing vlogs is based not just on great editing and exotic locations, but also on escapism and dreams of young women attired in swimwear. In that market, we will never compete. Instead, you’ll see a middle aged skipper struggling to get his boat to the next port west about the world.
If it were easy everybody, would go long distance cruising. A lot of channels pay lip service that they are sailing around the world but few actually do it. We make westward progress every season, but it looks like we will not be getting back to our home port of New Orleans over a decade from departing in 2016. Since I estimated in my book the typical successful circumnavigator (most of whom are not skipping half the cruising season) take about 6 years to go around the world, twelve years seems a good guess for the Slow Boat crew sailing part-time.
The season 4 plan is to sail from Tonga to Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. We plan to haul out in New Caledonia. The plans for seasons 5 and 6 is to sail to Australia and cruise its north coast and pass through Torres Strait to the Indian Ocean.
You’ll see the rescue of two Golden Globe Race (GGR) sailors in the Indian Ocean. Abhilash Tomy was in 3rd place in the GGR 2018 solo-sailing race for small yachts on September 21, 2018, when his sailboat THURIYA was rolled and dismasted in 14-meter seas and 70-knot winds about 1,900 miles SW of Perth, Australia in the Southern Indian Ocean. Tomy had a sever back injury and could not move from his bunk. He set off his EPIRB manually, but was unable to cut away the dangerously dangling mast. This set off an international rescue of the French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris underway on September 24, 2018. 4th place competitor Irish skipper Gregor McGuckin was also rescued 30 miles west of Tomy by the Osiris. McGuckin’s sailboat was dismasted and was sailing under jury rig.
“Capt. Donde [Abhilash Tomy’s manager] also announced plans to salvage Tomy’s yacht Thuriya, left drifting in the Indian Ocean when he was recovered by the crew of the French Fisheries Patrol ship Osiris on Monday. The plan is for the Indian Navy to tow Thuriya to St Paul’s Island some 40 miles north, and leave a crew to make repairs and sail her to land.
McGuckin’s yacht Hanley Energy Endurance was also left drifting when the Osiris crew picked him off the yacht. In a statement today, Neil O’Hagen, spokesman for Team Ireland said:
‘During the controlled evacuation of Hanley Energy Endurance, McGuckin was instructed to leave the vessel afloat. The French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris instructed McGuckin that scuttling the vessel would be in breach of international maritime regulations. Hence, McGuckin removed all debris from the deck that could become separated, secured all equipment on board, and ensured the AIS beacon was active. The power source to the AIS device is solar panels which should remain active without any outside assistance, reducing the risk to other vessels. Precautionary steps were also taken to ensure the relatively small amount of fuel onboard is secure.'”
Non-copyrighted photos taken by PPL/GGR by
Christophe Favreau
Commander Abhilash Tomy, KC
Gregor McGuckin
Barry Pickthall
Tim Bishop
Indian Navy
AMSA
Additional photos from the Australian Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Public Domain video from the US Navy:
PACIFIC OCEAN
07.28.2016
Video by Petty Officer 1st Class Paul Seeber
Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet
160728-N-KL795-020 The Royal Australian Navy Anzac Class frigate HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155) steams i(U.S. Navy video by Chief (select) Mass Communication Specialist Paul Seeber
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, UNITED STATES
07.12.2016
Video by Jamie Hawkins
Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet
160712-N-ZY850-003 PEARL HARBOR (July 12, 2016) Indian Navy frigate Satpura (F48) departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for Rim of the Pacific 2016. (U.S. Navy Video By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jamie Hawkins)
We use a Mantus Anchor and swivel on our boat. Get all your Mantus gear at http://www.mantusanchors.com/?affiliates=15
Mantus Anchors is a title sponsor of this video.Support the videos at http://www.Patreon.com/slowboatsailing
On the Slow Boat Sailing Podcast Linus Wilson has interviewed the crew of Sailing SV Delos, WhiteSpotPirates (Untie the Lines), Chase the Story Sailing, Gone with the Wynns, MJ Sailing, Sailing Doodles, SV Prism, Sailing Miss Lone Star, and many others.
Get Linus Wilson’s books
Slow Boat to the Bahamas
and How to Sail Around the World-Part Time
https://gumroad.com/l/sailing
have been #1 sailing bestseller on Amazon.Associate Producers Anders Colbenson, Larry Wilson, Ted Royer, Sam Balatsias and Kevin Yeager
Sign up for our free newsletter for access to free books and other promotions at http://www.slowboatsailing.com
music by http://www.BenSound.com
Copyright Linus Wilson, Vermilion Advisory Services, LLC, 2018
Joy and Jim Carey were 150 miles from their home port in Belingham Washington when they were struck by violent storm. A rougue wave filled their boat with water, knocked out the electronics, and nearly washed Jim overboard. Getting hypothermic with no other forms of communication, they pulled their EPIRB and abandoned their beloved sailing vessel Kelaerin. This tragic story has a happy ending. Listen to hear it.
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USCG finds sailing vessel Kelaerin adrift off the coast of California. Public domain photo taken by the USCG’s PO3 Sarah Wilson.
Linus Wilson also gives his review of the Adrift movie in episode 52 of the podcast. In the USA Adrift became available for rental in early September 2018. This is the blurb from its distributor STX entertainment:
“Starring Shailene Woodley (Fault in Our Stars, Divergent films) and Sam Claflin (Me Before You, The Hunger Games films), ADRIFT is based on the inspiring true story of two sailors who set out to journey across the ocean from Tahiti to San Diego.
Tami Oldham (Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Claflin) couldn’t anticipate they would be sailing directly into one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. In the aftermath of the storm, Tami awakens to find Richard badly injured and their boat in ruins. With no hope for rescue, Tami must find the strength and determination to save herself and the only man she has ever loved.
ADRIFT is the unforgettable story about the resilience of the human spirit and the transcendent power of love.”
Linus talks about the rescue of two Golden Globe Sailors rescued in the Indian Ocean. Abhilash Tomy was in 3rd place in the Golden Globe Race for small yachts on September 21, 2018, when his boat THURIYA was rolled and dismasted in 14-meter seas and 70-knot winds about 1,900 miles SW of Perth, Australia in the Southern Indian Ocean. Tomy had a sever back injury and could not move from his bunk. He set off his EPIRB manually, but was unable to cut away the dangerously dangling mast. This set off an international rescue of the French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris underway on September 24, 2018. 4th place competitor Irish skipper Gregor McGuckin was also rescued 30 miles west of Tomy by the Osiris. McGuckin’s sailboat was dismasted and was sailing under jury rig. You can see our video about the rescue at
Hurricane Florence devastated the sailing community in New Bern, North Carolina with its ten-foot storm surge. You will see the destruction to boats in the historic city. You will see how the storm surge broke up the docks in Bridgepoint Marina and hear from a marina tenants Shawn and Shannon Yale of Sailing Banjo whose boat, SV Banjo, rode out the storm successfully on a Mantus Anchor.
Many boats were overturned in their stands from the rising storm surge in Duck Creek Marina near New Bern, NC. The C-dock near the Trent River Bridge at Bridgepoint Marina was almost completely destroyed at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers. Flooding from Hurricane Florence. See our video with Sailing Banjo about Hurricane Florence’s impact on sailboats and the sailing community in New Bern, North Carolina.
Sailing Banjo’s social media and blog links are below:
We use a Mantus Anchor and swivel on our boat. Get all your Mantus gear at http://www.mantusanchors.com/?affiliates=15
Mantus Anchors is a title sponsor of this video.Support the videos at http://www.Patreon.com/slowboatsailing
On the Slow Boat Sailing Podcast Linus Wilson has interviewed the crew of Sailing SV Delos, WhiteSpotPirates (Untie the Lines), Chase the Story Sailing, Gone with the Wynns, MJ Sailing, Sailing Doodles, SV Prism, Sailing Miss Lone Star, and many others.
Get Linus Wilson’s bestselling sailing books:
Slow Boat to the Bahamas
https://gumroad.com/l/sailing
have been #1 sailing bestseller on Amazon.Associate Producers Anders Colbenson, Larry Wilson, Ted Royer, Sam Balatsias, Rick Moore (SSL), and Kevin Yeager
Sign up for our free newsletter for access to free books and other promotions at http://www.slowboatsailing.com
music by http://www.BenSound.com
Copyright Linus Wilson, Vermilion Advisory Services, LLC, 2018
Joy and Jim Carey were 150 miles from their home port in Belingham Washington when they were struck by violent storm. A rougue wave filled their boat with water, knocked out the electronics, and nearly washed Jim overboard. Getting hypothermic with no other forms of communication, they pulled their EPIRB and abandoned their beloved sailing vessel Kelaerin. This tragic story has a happy ending. Listen to hear it.
Linus Wilson also gives his review of the Adrift movie in episode 52 of the podcast. In the USA Adrift became available for rental in early September 2018. This is the blurb from its distributor STX entertainment:
“Starring Shailene Woodley (Fault in Our Stars, Divergent films) and Sam Claflin (Me Before You, The Hunger Games films), ADRIFT is based on the inspiring true story of two sailors who set out to journey across the ocean from Tahiti to San Diego.
Tami Oldham (Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Claflin) couldn’t anticipate they would be sailing directly into one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. In the aftermath of the storm, Tami awakens to find Richard badly injured and their boat in ruins. With no hope for rescue, Tami must find the strength and determination to save herself and the only man she has ever loved.
ADRIFT is the unforgettable story about the resilience of the human spirit and the transcendent power of love.”
Linus talks about the rescue of two Golden Globe Sailors rescued in the Indian Ocean. Abhilash Tomy was in 3rd place in the Golden Globe Race for small yachts on September 21, 2018, when his boat THURIYA was rolled and dismasted in 14-meter seas and 70-knot winds about 1,900 miles SW of Perth, Australia in the Southern Indian Ocean. Tomy had a sever back injury and could not move from his bunk. He set off his EPIRB manually, but was unable to cut away the dangerously dangling mast. This set off an international rescue of the French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris underway on September 24, 2018. 4th place competitor Irish skipper Gregor McGuckin was also rescued 30 miles west of Tomy by the Osiris. McGuckin’s sailboat was dismasted and was sailing under jury rig. You can see our video about the rescue at
Hurricane Florence devastated the sailing community in New Bern, North Carolina with its ten-foot storm surge. You will see the destruction to boats in the historic city. You will see how the storm surge broke up the docks in Bridgepoint Marina and hear from a marina tenants Shawn and Shannon Yale of Sailing Banjo whose boat, SV Banjo, rode out the storm successfully on a Mantus Anchor.
Many boats were overturned in their stands from the rising storm surge in Duck Creek Marina near New Bern, NC. The C-dock near the Trent River Bridge at Bridgepoint Marina was almost completely destroyed at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers. Flooding from Hurricane Florence. See our video with Sailing Banjo about Hurricane Florence’s impact on sailboats and the sailing community in New Bern, North Carolina.
Sailing Banjo’s social media and blog links are below:
A lot of folks wondered why the two Golden Globe Race racers who were rescued on September 24, 2018, by the French FPVOsiris did not scuttle their dismasted sailboats before evacuating. Floating around the Southern Ocean, they potentially pose a hazard to navigation and are a risk to other racers who were behind the third and fourth placed Abhilash Tomy of India and Gregor McGuckin of Ireland. Here is the scoop. This is straight from today’s Golden Globe Race newsletter:
Capt. Donde [Abhilash Tomy’s manager] also announced plans to salvage Tomy’s yacht Thuriya, left drifting in the Indian Ocean when he was recovered by the crew of the French Fisheries Patrol ship Osiris on Monday. The plan is for the Indian Navy to tow Thuriya to St Paul’s Island some 40 miles north, and leave a crew to make repairs and sail her to land.
McGuckin’s yacht Hanley Energy Endurance was also left drifting when the Osiris crew picked him off the yacht. In a statement today, Neil O’Hagen, spokesman for Team Ireland said
Photo credit: Indian Navy/GGR/PPL; Abhilash Tomy is taken off his Suhali replica yacht via stretcher on September 24, 2018,1900 nautical miles from Perth Australia in the Indian Ocean.
“During the controlled evacuation of Hanley Energy Endurance, McGuckin was instructed to leave the vessel afloat. The French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris instructed McGuckin that scuttling the vessel would be in breach of international maritime regulations. Hence, McGuckin removed all debris from the deck that could become separated, secured all equipment on board, and ensured the AIS beacon was active. The power source to the AIS device is solar panels which should remain active without any outside assistance, reducing the risk to other vessels. Precautionary steps were also taken to ensure the relatively small amount of fuel onboard is secure.
Indian Naval Commander Tomy is reported to be standing and has no broken bones as part of the back injury that incapacitated after his boat was rolled in a 70-knot storm with 15-meter waves. The Indian Navy plans to move Tomy to India from the Isle de Amsterdam where he and McGuckin are staying. The Australian Navy plans to take McGuckin to Australia in a few days.
Dr. Linus Wilson, is a USCG licensed “six-pack” captain and is the creator of the Slow Boat Sailing Podcast and YouTube Channel. He has written several books about sailboat cruising, including How to Sail Around the World Part-Time. The Slow Boat is currently in the Kingdom of Tonga.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) received confirmation that the French fisheries patrol vessel, FPV Osiris successfully located and rescued Abhilash Tomy who is reported to be in a stable condition.
The FPV Osiris arrived at the yacht’s location around 5.30pm (AEST) yesterday. Then around 10pm (AEST) the Osiris also evacuated a second solo yachtsman, Gregor McGuckin, from the SV Hanley Energy Endurance.
Both men were participating in the Golden Globe Yacht Race. On Friday night race organisers notified AMSA that both Tomy and Gregor’s yachts had rolled in rough weather and dismasted. Tomy then sent a message via a tracker to advise that he had injured his back in the rollover and was unable to move.
Gregor was not injured but indicated that he wanted to abandon his yacht due to the damage sustained. He then made his way towards Tomy’s location in an attempt to assist.
Tomy’s yacht was approximately 3,500 km west of Perth, in remote seas and in bad weather.
Photo credit: AMSA, Sam Cardwell; Caption: FPV Osiris crew rescue injured GGR skipper from his dismasted sailboat.
AMSA tasked a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft and a civilian Global Express aircraft from Australia. The Indian Armed Forces supported the search and rescue with an additional P-8 aircraft. These aircraft sighted the stricken yacht SV Thuriya yesterday and confirmed the vessel’s condition and location for rescue organisers.
AMSA also tasked the Royal Australian Navy vessel HMAS Ballarat which is currently en route. It is anticipated the HMAS Ballarat will take several days to reach the stricken yacht.
The FPV Osiris has transported Tomy to Ile Amsterdam for further medical treatment and assessment.
AMSA would like to thank all those involved in the search and rescue.
The above is the complete statement of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) on the rescue of the Golden Globe Race skippers Abhilash Tomy and Gregor McGuckin.
“We are delighted to confirm Gregor McGuckin and fellow competitor Abhilash Tomy are now onboard the French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris.” That was written on the Irish sailor’s webpage.
Further the spokespersons wrote, “McGuckin’s condition is good and has reported nothing more than bumps and bruises.” McGuckin sailed his 36-foot sailboat under jury rig after it was dismasted on September 21 in a 70-knot storm with 14-meter waves.
Picture credit: Indian Navy
Earlier on September 24, 2018, McGuckin’s competitor in the round the world solo sailing race was rescued from the yacht Thuriya.
Abhilash Tomy was in 3rd place in the Golden Globe Race for small yachts on September 21, 2018, when his boat THURIYA was rolled and dismasted in 14-meter seas and 70-knot winds about 1,900 miles SW of Perth, Australia in the Southern Indian Ocean. Tomy had a sever back injury and could not move from his bunk. He set off his EPIRB manually, but was unable to cut away the dangerously dangling mast. This set off an international rescue of the French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris underway on September 24, 2018.
4th place Gregor McGuckin and his Biscay 36 yacht HANLEY ENERGY ENDURANCE were also rolled and dismasted in the same storm but was able to set up a jury rig. A full rescue organised by the Australian Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Canberra is under way to repatriate the inured solo sailor, Commander Abhilash Tomy from his Suhaili replica yacht THURIYA.
Abhilash has covered 52,000 miles under sail while in the Indian Navy including a solo non-stop circumnavigation from Mumbai and back in 2012/13.
Commander Abhilash Tomy, KC (left) with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and (right) Right Dilip Donde first Indian to sail solo around the world meet each other In a Mumbai curry house. Abhilash Tomy is an entrant in the 2018 Golden Globe Race. He completed a solo non-stop circumnavigation from Mumbai and back in 2012/13. To celebrate India’s heritage in building famous singlehanded yachts in the past (Suhaili and Lively Lady) Abhilash will be racing a replica of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s original 32-foot winner built at the Aquarius shipyard on Goa.
2018 Golden Globe Race – GGR skippers congregate in Les Sables d’Olonne. Back row left to right: Loic Lepage (FRA) Uku Randmaa (EST), Tapio Lehtinen (FIN) Don McIntyre – Race Founder, Abhilash Tomy (Ind) LSDO sport) Are Wiig (NOR) Jean Paul Dubreuil (Vice President LSDO) Agglomeration Yannick Moreau (President LSDO Agglomeration; Mark Sinclair (AUS) Ertan Beskardes (GBR) Mark Slats (NED) Igor Zarertsjiy (RUS) Susie Goodall (GBR) Front row: Philippe Peche (FRA), Kevin Farebrother (AUS) Gregor McGuckin (IRE) Antoine Cousot (FRA) Jane Zhou (GGR organiser) Istvan Kopar (USA) Nabil Amra (PAL) Celine Trommenschlager (GGR organiser). Of the 18 skippers who departed, the dismasting of Tomy and McGuckin on September 21, 2018, would leave only 8 left with over 15,000 nautical miles to go in the 30,000 nm race and Cape Horn to come.
The Golden Globe Race starts from Les Sables d’Olonne on 1st July 2018.
Non-copyrighted photos taken by PPL/GGR by
Christophe Favreau
Commander Abhilash Tomy, KC
Gregor McGuckin
Barry Pickthall
Tim Bishop
Public Domain video from the US Navy:
PACIFIC OCEAN
07.28.2016
Video by Petty Officer 1st Class Paul Seeber
Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet
160728-N-KL795-020 The Royal Australian Navy Anzac Class frigate HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155) steams i(U.S. Navy video by Chief (select) Mass Communication Specialist Paul Seeber
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, UNITED STATES
07.12.2016
Video by Jamie Hawkins
Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet
160712-N-ZY850-003 PEARL HARBOR (July 12, 2016) Indian Navy frigate Satpura (F48) departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for Rim of the Pacific 2016. (U.S. Navy Video By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jamie Hawkins)
We use a Mantus Anchor and swivel on our boat. Get all your Mantus gear at http://www.mantusanchors.com/?affiliates=15
Mantus Anchors is a title sponsor of this video.Support the videos at http://www.Patreon.com/slowboatsailing
On the Slow Boat Sailing Podcast Linus Wilson has interviewed the crew of Sailing SV Delos, WhiteSpotPirates (Untie the Lines), Chase the Story Sailing, Gone with the Wynns, MJ Sailing, Sailing Doodles, SV Prism, Sailing Miss Lone Star, and many others.
Get Linus Wilson’s books
Slow Boat to the Bahamas
and How to Sail Around the World-Part Time
https://gumroad.com/l/sailing
have been #1 sailing bestseller on Amazon.Associate Producers Anders Colbenson, Larry Wilson, Ted Royer, Sam Balatsias and Kevin Yeager
Sign up for our free newsletter for access to free books and other promotions at http://www.slowboatsailing.com
music by http://www.BenSound.com
Copyright Linus Wilson, Vermilion Advisory Services, LLC, 2018
The Indian Navy flew over Abilhash Tomy’s dismasted sailboat with a P8i aircraft launched from Port Louis Mauritius at 0200 this morning on September 23, 2018.
Indian Navy photo
It established visual contact with SV Thuriya at 0750 local and Indian Standard Time (UTC+5:30). Thuriya’s mast was broken and still attached to the boat pointing down into the sea. The Golden Globe Race reports that Tomy could not contact them with VHF because his handheld unit was not operational.
Tomy was competing in the Golden Globe Race for small sailboats. That race has competitors sail solo-nonstop around the world via the Southern Ocean with limited modern electronics. They have satellite phones and EPIRB rescue beacons for emergencies. Tomy set off his EPIRB yesterday and has written that he cannot move due to a back injury. Tomy is a pilot and Commander of the Indian Navy, and Thuriya is a replica of Suhali, the first boat to sail solo nonstop around the world. Both boats were built in India.
Photo by the Indian Navy
Abhilash Tomy, who is 1,900 miles west southwest of Perth, Australia wrote via satellite phone “ACTIVATED EPIRB.CANT WALK.MIGHT NEED STRETCHER”. He further wrote, “CAN MOVE TOES. FEEL NUMB. CAN’T EAT OR DRINK. TOUGH 2 REACH GRAB BAG”. Tomy has more recently complained of vomiting and chest pains in text messages.
PPL Photo Agency – Copyright free for editorial use only Photo Credit: Christophe Favreau/PPL/GGR ***2018 Golden Globe Race. Commander Abhilash Tomy his Suhaili replica yacht THURIYA , photographed off Lanzarote, Canaries during the compulsory film drop off Marina Rubicon on 16th June 2018. The yacht was rolled and dismasted in the South Indian Ocean (1,900 miles SW of Perth, Australia) on 21st September and a full rescue organised by the Australian Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Canberra to repatriate the inured solo sailor.
PPL Photo Agency – Copyright free for editorial use only Photo Credit: Christophe Favreau/PPL/GGR ***2018 Golden Globe Race. Commander Abhilash Tomy his Suhaili replica yacht THURIYA , photographed off Lanzarote, Canaries during the compulsory film drop off Marina Rubicon on 16th June 2018. The yacht was rolled and dismasted in the South Indian Ocean (1,900 miles SW of Perth, Australia) on 21st September and a full rescue organised by the Australian Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Canberra to repatriate the inured solo sailor.
PPL Photo Agency – Copyright free for editorial use only Photo Credit: Christophe Favreau/PPL/GGR ***2018 Golden Globe Race. Commander Abhilash Tomy his Suhaili replica yacht THURIYA , photographed off Lanzarote, Canaries during the compulsory film drop off Marina Rubicon on 16th June 2018. The yacht was rolled and dismasted in the South Indian Ocean (1,900 miles SW of Perth, Australia) on 21st September and a full rescue organised by the Australian Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Canberra to repatriate the inured solo sailor.
Photo credits: Christophe Favreau/PPL/GGR
Caption: Commander Abhilash Tomy his Suhaili replica yacht THURIYA , photographed off Lanzarote, Canaries during the compulsory film drop off Marina Rubicon on 16th June 2018.
Commander Abhilash Tomy, KC from Mumbai, India is an entrant in the 2018 Golden Globe Race. Abhilash has covered 52,000 miles under sail while in the Indian Navy including a solo non-stop circumnavigation from Mumbai and back in 2012 to 2013.
One boat is his fellow Golden Globe Racer Gregor McGuckin motor-sailing under jury rig. Both McGuckin and Tomy were dismasted in a storm of 70-knot winds and 14-meter seas on September 21, 2018. McGuckin’s engine is dying and his only spinnaker pole use for the jury rig is bending in high winds. He is expecting to arrive at Tomy’s disabled vessel at sunrise on Monday.
“He [McGuckin] may be asked by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Canberra to abandon his own yacht and board Thuriya to provide immediate assistance to the injured yachtsman. Telemedicine doctors MSOS in the UK would then be able to speak directly to Abhilash via Gregor’s satellite phone and suggest appropriate first aid as well as advise JRCC of his condition to help forward planning,” wrote GGR headquarters.
A French fisheries patrol boat, Osiris, is Tomy and McGuckin’s most immediate chance of rescue. Osiris is expected on. Monday 1000 UTC. It has been delayed by adverse sea conditions and is motoring at 4.1 knots, according to GGR race headquarters. It has medical facilities on board.
The Australian and Indian Navy are sending ships but their arrival could take days.
Including, Tomy and McGuckin who are likely to abandon their stricken boats ten of the eighteen skippers have abandoned or been eliminated from the 30,000 mile solo-nonstop race. Three sailboats leaving the start line have thus far been dismasted. Norwegian sailor Are Wiig sailed his dismasted sailboat under jury rig into Cape Town in early September.
Dr. Linus Wilson, is a USCG licensed “six-pack” captain and is the creator of the Slow Boat Sailing Podcast and YouTube Channel. He has written several books about sailboat cruising, including How to Sail Around the World Part-Time.
SLOW BOAT SAILING 