[BITList] Navy man planning global trip solo on yacht

[John Feltham]

Navy man planning global trip solo on yacht
PTI
Friday, March 6, 2009 16:41 IST

Mumbai: A senior naval officer is preparing to set sail to
circumnavigate the globe to become the first Indian to achieve the feat
in a yacht, with four planned stops.

And during his journey that may last nine months, commander Dilip Donde
is all prepared to face solitude, 10 metre high waves and freezing
waters. Donde, who will sail around the world as part of the Indian
Navy's project 'Sagar Parikrama', arrived in the city's naval dockyard
on board the indigenously built yacht 'Mhadei' on Thursday from Goa to
undergo training for his journey.

"After setting sail from India there will be four stops: at Fremantle in
Australia, Christchurch in New Zealand, Port Stanley in South America
and Cape Town in South Africa before returning home," Donde said.

The 41-year-old Naval officer, who volunteered for the mission, has been
involved with the project for the last three years and was present
during the building of the yacht in Goa.

"The main part of the training for the project is to get to know the
boat really well, which is why I have been closely involved in the
building of the yacht," Donde said.

To sustain himself on the long journey, Donde is expected to carry many
books and tools to repair the yacht in the event of problems, apart from
rations and medicines.However, in the event of any distress, Donde, who
has sailed with the naval sail ship INS Tarangini to the US earlier,
will have to rely on his seafaring abilities to stay alive.

The journey is expected to begin in Mumbai, subject to favourable
climatic conditions, on August 15 and Dhonde is expected to take nine
months to travel over 21,000 miles.Donde will be in the city till August
and will undergo training to prepare for the journey.

"This is the second phase of training where he will practice with other
experienced yachtsmen and will also sail to Mauritius and back to get in
shape for the world trip," vice admiral JS Bedi, flag officer commanding
in chief Western Naval Command said at a function here.

The entire cost of the project, approximately Rs 6.5 crore, was being
borne by the navy and was in keeping with the encouragement it provides
to adventure sports, he said.The yacht, Mhadei, which is 17.1 metres
long and equipped with Swedish engines and sails from New Zealand, has
been specially built for the circumnavigation.

"When the project was kicked off many felt it would not be possible to
build this boat but other than some equipment from abroad the ship has
been built here," Bedi said.

The navy is also planning to keep a camera to broadcast live images of
the journey via a broadband Internet connection on the ship.











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