The Indian Navy today set the ball rolling by flagging off the first of its kind solo circumnavigation sea voyage undertaken by any Indian.
Under the project ‘Sagar Parikrama’, 42-year old Commander Dilip Donde of the Indian Navy, the chosen skipper for this voyage, will circumnavigate a distance of 21,600 nautical miles around the world singlehandedly on the Indian naval sailing vessel, ‘Mhadei’.
‘Mhadei’ - named after the river Mandovi, is based on Goan tradition of honouring the Boat Devi of Goa - is a first of its kind sailing Yacht constructed in the country with pioneering efforts of Aquarius Fibreglass Pvt Ltd, Goa. Built at a cost of Rs 4.15 crore, Mhadei is a 56 ft long Sail boat based on design acquired from Van de Stadt Design Bureau, Netherlands.
Donde, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), has sailed oboard India’s only tall ship, `INS Tarangini’ as executive officer during her maiden circumnavigation in 2003-2004 and has also undertaken the longest solo sail of over 2300 nautical miles (4,140 kms) from Mauritius to Goa in June 2009, by any Indian in a run-up to this event. The mission was steered by Vice Admiral (rtd) M P Awati.
‘Mhadei’, during her voyage will take on the exceptional winds and swell which are prevalent especially below 60 degree South latitude called the ‘Roaring 40s’, ‘Fearsome 50s’ and ‘Screaming 60s’. To use these winds to her advantage she will attempt this on an easterly heading and will sail for approx nine months which would include stoppages at four Ports ‘Only’ namely Fremantle (Australia) 4000 Nms (7200 Kms), Christchurch (New Zealand) 3600 Nms (6480 Kms), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands) 5000 Nms (9000 Kms) and Cape Town (South Africa) 3200 Nms (5760 Kms), respectively before returning to Mumbai 5800 Nms (10,440 Kms). The total distance to be covered under Sail is 21600 Nms (38,880 kms) thus meeting the four pre-requisites to qualify for a circumnavigation voyage.
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