Returning to the scene of the crime

Before the fleet was deep in the Indian Ocean, attrition had already hit the 2018-19 Golden Globe, a solo non-stop race around the world that restricted the 17 entrants to the same type of yachts and equipment that were available in 1968-69 for the first race.

But on day 83, the drama rose to a new level when a vicious storm between Australia and South Africa delivered 70 knot winds and 14m seas which dismasted India’s Abhilash Tomy and Ireland’s Gregor McGuckin dismasted

While McGuckin was okay, the 39-year old Tomy, a Commander in the Indian Navy making his second solo circumnavigation, was injured. Trapped below, he turned on his EPIRB on and sent a short text message to race control: ROLLED. DISMASTED. SEVERE BACK INJURY. CANNOT GET UP.

Then all communication was lost…

Event details – Entry list – Facebook

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