Commander Dilip Donde, the first Indian to circumnavigate the globe solo, arrived in the Mumbai harbour to a grand reception on Saturday. Vice-president Mohammed Hamid Ansari and chief of Naval staff Admiral Nirmal Verma were present to greet him on the historic occasion.
During the press conference on Saturday, Cdr Donde gave credit to his yacht, the INSV Mhadei. “It is a great feeling to have completed the voyage. However, this could not have been possible without a superb boat. Therefore, the credit goes to INSV Mhadei,” Cdr Donde said.
Cdr Donde had embarked on the historic voyage on August 19 last year in an attempt to create the record. His journey was titled Sagar Parikrama, and it was completed in 276 days. On this journey, Cdr Donde covered 21,600 nautical miles, and crossed the equator four times.
The moment the yacht approached the finish line, a fast attack craft of the Indian Navy went out to greet him, along with speedboats and two tugs operating their water canons. The vice-president and the naval chief welcomed him aboard the INS Delhi.
Mr Ansari said, “This occasion makes every Indian proud and happy. It was a long-awaited, first-of-a-kind voyage, and was done very well.” So far, 175 people across the world have managed to complete such a challenge. “Cdr Donde has shown that skill, determination and courage can achieve what is considered to be immensely difficult, if not impossible,” added the vice-president.
Mr Ansair added that the youth should take inspiration from Cdr Donde, and said that every Indian should focus seriously on adventure and innovation.
Earlier this week, Ms Jessica Watson, 16, became the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world. Interestingly, during each of their voyages, Ms Watson and Cdr. Donde were in touch and shared their experience and the sea condition. The world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the Earth is of 67 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and six seconds, by Mr Francis Joyon, a French national.