The First Indian
By SY Antara
Today, he and his partner Sucheta, offers blue ocean sailing experiences on their sailing yacht, Antara; making sailing accessible and affordable for all.
The First IndianJun 11, 2021
Chapter 24: First Taste of the Southern Ocean - Part 1
Dilip reached Australia in time to celebrate his birthday as well as Diwali 'the Festival of Lights'. Having completed the first leg successfully, he could see light at the end of the tunnel. He had grown confident of his, and Mhadei's, sailing capabilities and was ready to take on the Southern Ocean!
Chapter 23: Down Under - Part 6
"Well, the first time you face a big one, you are convinced that it is the end of the world and you are not going to survive. The second time, you tell yourself you just might survive, as you managed the last time. The third time, you are sure you will come out of it alive as you have survived so far. When you are getting ready to face the tenth one, you are worrying that you may not be able to get hot food for the next few days! But to reach that state, you have to go through the first nine stages" Robin Knox-Johnston
Chapter 23: Down Under - Part 5
We're recording this podcast a week at a time and attempting to align the sail dates with current dates. As a result we have reached Sunday 13 September 2009 in the course of Dilip's circumnavigation. A harrowing week in which he crossed into the 'Coldrums' and had to do emergency repairs on the pad eye that held the boom on Mhadei.
But, as always, he had the good fortune to see some whales up close; a memory that helped erase thoughts of bad weather and possible accidents!
Chapter 23: Down Under - Part 4
The image shows where Dilip was 12 years ago on 4 Sep, 2009. A little dot in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Readers responded with kudos and more. One was inspired to poetry...
Sir, this short evocation for the Lord of the Seas (is there a special one for the trade winds?)
"When it was sunny you were kind
When it was glassy you were generous
Now that it is choppy we pray do not rescind
The blessing which ye showered on Captain courageous
The gale will test and go away
The storm will also remain at bay
As Mhadei cuts the trade winds
Remains she always in our minds
best luck always,"
Atty
Chapter 23: Down Under - Part 3
Dilip's entire sailing voyage is covered in his blog: sagarparikrama.blogspot.com. So if you find you can't wait to hear the next podcast, go ahead and read it up on his blog
Though Dilip only started blogging once he set sail, enthusiastic supporters were already sending in their wishes...
"Am I inaugurating this page or what. If I am let me congratulate Cdr Dilip Donde on this extraordinary task he taken upon himself. It is a task where his mental mettle will be tasked to its limit. Not seeing a single face for days, may be weeks, while fighting for survival can be really arduous. I wish you the very best, and do anything, but DONT FALL OFF THE BOAT." August 5, 2009, Unknown
Chapter 23: Down Under - Part 2
Dilip's blog posts were the only way for most people to follow along on his voyage. He has used those to give us a lungful of the seas. The original blog is a treat to read, laced as it is with loads of fabulous photographs.
Chapter 23: Down Under - Part 1
Happy anniversary Skipper! Today is exactly 11 years since that said you cast off the lines and sailed out of Mumbai harbour.
Chapter 22: The Final Checklist
You're not ready till you're ready. Dilip wrestles with the naval bureaucracy even as he counts down to his departure on August 19th!
Serendipitiously, we are recording this in the same month, in fact the actual recording was done on August 10th, the day Mhadei sailed to Mumbai in preparation for her maiden voyage.
Inevitably, some of the craziness from that time seems to have rubbed off on this recording. Our apologies!
Chapter 21 : Charting My Course
Dilip had initially planned two stops in his circumnavigation, but the powers-that-be decreed otherwise. He finally cast ashore at Fremantle, Australia; Lyttleton, New Zealand; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands and Cape Town, South Africa.
Chapter 20: The Mauritius Adventure - Part 2
As we recorded the later half of this chapter, the rain petered out, changing to a pitter pattern, providing a soothing backdrop to Dilip's voice, with the cicadas piping up as punctuation!
Chapter 20: The Mauritius Adventure - Part 1
In our attempt at an authentic background sound, we recorded this episode with the rains pummelling Goa during one particularly rainy day. The birds that sheltered in the balcony offered a refreshing refrain with the crickets chirping up as the weather eased!
Here's the first half of Dilip's sail to Mauritius. It ends where he starts out on his first ever solo sail, back to Goa.
Chapter 19 : Colombo Calling
Mhadei's first trip abroad with Dilip and Abhilash Tomy
Chapter 18: Mhadei's Baby Steps
INSV Mhadei is ready to show off her moves as Dilip's mentor, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston pays her a visit
Chapter 17: Mhadei - Part 4
Typically a ship's transfer is marked by a handover of her keys. Since she is a sail boat, a winch handle was used to mark the occasion of handover of INSV Mhadei, to the Navy.
This is the final episode in a long chapter recounting the story of Mhadei's christening, creation and birth; in that order. We have shared it in multiple episodes just to give you a sense of the anticipation that went into bringing Mhadei into being!
Chapter 17: Mhadei - Part 3
Once the 9 tonne keel is affixed, Mhadei is raring to go; ready to float, on her own in the dry dock, and insisting on an early launch!
This is a long chapter recounting the story of Mhadei's christening, creation and birth; in that order. We have shared it in 4 episodes just to give you a sense of the anticipation that went into bringing Mhadei into being!
Chapter 17: Mhadei - Part 2
This is a long chapter recounting the story of Mhadei's christening, creation and birth; in that order. We have shared it in 4 episodes just to give you a sense of the anticipation that went into bringing Mhadei into being!
Chapter 17: Mhadei - Part 1
What's in a name!? Here's how Mhadei was christened in Sunaparanta - the Golden Land.
This is a long chapter recounting the story of Mhadei's christening, creation and birth; in that order. We have shared it in 4 episodes just to give you a sense of the anticipation that went into bringing Mhadei into being!
Chapter 16: Adieu Sameer
The trip to return Sameer home gives Dilip a much needed shot in the arm and boosts his confidence in his preparations for ocean sailing.
PS: this episode was recorded in the midst of a downpour on a particularly wet monsoon day
Chapter 15: Our Boat Building Guru
Enter Johan, boat building guru and mentor to Ratnakar, providing much need resuscitation to the Project.
Meanwhile the magpie robins, the keels and the sparrows chirrup in the background as we continue our recordings during lockdown in Goa
Chapter 14: The First Hurdle
Dilip learns about seasoned wood and Ratnakar, thinking on his feet, comes up with a brainwave!
Chapter 13: Robin's First Visit
Rediscovering Bombay with Robin, while talking 'boat' all the while. Dilip uses this opportunity to get precious feedback on the construction of his boat.
Chapter 12: Finally, Some Sailing
An off shore sailing rally from Kochi to Kavaratti on J 24s just as Dilip has given up any hope of some local sailing experience. He then decides to focus on the building of his own boat
Chapter 11: A Womb for the Boat
A Christmas gift to himself: boat construction was officially started on 25th December 2007, less than two years before the start of Dilip's circumnavigation.
Chapter 10: Training Sortie that Wasn't
Three times in a row and Dilip has had it with attempting a training sail. You can almost see him shrug his shoulders as he bats aside these hiccups and decides to focus on building his boat.
Chapter 9: The Eldemer Episode
Comic relief in the form of a failed sortie with a mathematically inclined science genius and sailor. Followed by more bureaucratese as Dilip is forced to finalise his sail dates 2 years ahead of time!
Chapter 8: Training Boat
A case of too little too late. Dilip finally does away with the idea of buying that elusive training boat.
Chapter 7: Humour in Uniform
Navigating Naval bureaucracy often proved more challenging and tested Dilip's patience, diplomatic skills and sense of humour. Here he helps steer his file through Naval Headquarters with aplomb, while funneling all his fury into rebuilding Sameer.
Chapter 6: Training on Old Sameer
One way to establish what you don't want in a boat is to sail on a 10 year old derelict and showcase her to your future boat builder
Chapter 5: Finding a Boatyard
Chapter 4: Apprenticeship Again
Chapter 3: A Suitable Boat
Chapter 2: An Invaluable Apprenticeship
Meeting Sir Robin Knox-Johnston for the very first time and getting hands on experience in preparing a boat for a solo circumnavigation.
Chapter 1: A Path Less Travelled
Volunteering for Sagarparikrama: this episode describes how the project landed in Dilip's lap.
We continue to record this during lockdown in Goa, hence the birdsong in the background. Creating this version of my book is a new experience for us. We welcome your feedback to help improve subsequent episodes.
Introduction
Dilip introduces his book and the key reason for embarking on this adventure, a solo circumnavigation of the globe under sail. Listen as this sailor spins his yarn, casts a spell and takes you on the ride of your life.
We recorded this episode during lockdown in Goa, hence the birdsong in the background. Creating this version of the book is a new experience for us. We would love to hear from you. Send us a note at https://anchor.fm/thefirstindian/message