#GoldenGlobeRace: Injured, stranded Naval officer Abhilash Tomy, his vessel located
What's the story
An Indian Navy aircraft has located Indian Naval officer Abhilash Tomy, along with his vessel, who was badly injured while participating in the 2018 Golden Globe Race, "rolling excessively" in the South Indian Ocean, a Defense spokesman said. Tomy had suffered a back injury Friday after his yacht was hit by a vicious storm with 14-meter-high waves mid-way across South Indian Ocean. Here's more.
Details
Aircraft located the mast broken boat rolling excessively
The Indian Navy's P8I aircraft, which flew from Mauritius in the early hours Sunday, has located the "mast broken boat rolling excessively". "Commander Tomy responded by ping on EPIRB as the aircraft was flying over him," the spokesman in Kochi said. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is a device which alerts rescue services in case of an accident at sea.
About
Tomy, first Indian to have circumnavigated the globe
Tomy, who became the first Indian to have circumnavigated the globe in 2013, is the only Indian participating in the GGR that involves a grueling 30,000-mile solo circumnavigation of the globe. His vessel is in the South Indian Ocean, about 1,900 nautical miles from Perth in Australia. Tomy's vessel was dismasted in extremely rough weather and sea conditions, with wind speeds of 130 kph.
Rescue operations
Tomy can be rescued only by naval ships: Spokesman
The Indian Navy aircraft would fly back after three to four hours and Tomy can only be rescued by naval ships. Tomy had Sunday managed to get in touch with race organizers in France through messages and requested for a stretcher as he could not move. He was representing India in the Golden Globe Race 2018 (GGR) on an indigenously-built sailing vessel "SV Thuriya"
The GGR
Tomy had sailed 10,500 nautical miles in GGR
Tomy was in the third position in the GGR and has sailed over 10,500 nautical miles in the last 84 days, since the race started on July 1. A report from France on Friday night had said 70-knot winds, and 14-meter-high waves had left the yachts of Tomy, and Ireland's Gregor McGuckin dismasted and twice knocked down the yacht of second-placed Dutchman Mark Slats.
McGuckin, Slats
Both McGuckin and Slats are reportedly safe
Both McGuckin and Slats reported they were fine, but 39-year-old Tomy, making his second solo circumnavigation, was injured. Other entrants were asked to make towards Tomy's position if possible, the French report said, adding the weather was extreme. The nearest yacht was McGuckin's "Biscay 36 Hanley Energy Endurance", some 145km to the southwest of Tomy's "Thuriya", but she too was dismasted in the storm.