Abhilash talks to Yachting Monthly’s Katy Stickland, about his second Golden Globe Race. He finished second.
Abhilash Tomy became the first Indian, in 2013, to sail alone, nonstop, and without assistance around the world. He did this aboard the INSV Mhadei, a 56ft fin-keel sloop. Before this, he served as shore support to Dilip Donde who was the first Indian solo and unassisted to sail around the world. Tomy has represented India in several yacht races, such as the Cape Town Rio race.
Abhilash was forced to be the last competitor in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, as he could not commit without the financial support of a title sponsorship. This meant he had less time to prepare Bayanat, his Rustler 36. It meant that much of the circumnavigation he spent on repairs.
The work began two week before the race start, when Bayanat was involved in a collission with a cargo vessel during the race prologue from Gijon to Les Sables d’Olonne. Over 18 inches of the bow and a large portion of deck were delaminated. They had to be removed and replaced. Tomy was responsible for the cost as the repair was outside his sponsorship agreement. This…
