If you are at the Gateway of India today afternoon, you can be a witness to history. At 12:30pm today, Abhilash Tomy will set out on his quest to become the first Indian to sail around the world solo, unassisted and without stopping at any port. Six months of unknown dangers lie ahead of him during this trip, being called Sagar Parikrama II, but the 33-year-old is confidence personified. “Anything that you can imagine, can happen,” he says as he steers his boat, the INSV Mhadei, for a short ride off Mumbai harbour.

Sailing the high seas: Lieutenant Commander Abhilash Tomy aboard his boat, the INSV Mhadei