India-Aussie bonding in solitude of high seas

by Manu Pubby

The relationship between Indians and Australians may be a bit strained Down Under but on the high seas a friendship between an Indian Navy officer and an Australian teenaged sailor is going strong. Dilip Donde, the first Indian attempting a solo around-the-world sail has struck up a warm camaraderie with Jessica Watson, a young Australian student who is attempting to be the youngest sailor ever to circumnavigate the world, non-stop and alone.



Navy officer Commander Dilip Donde is now halfway around the world after having rounded Cape Horn and the nearest person to him is Australian school girl Jessica Watson, who at 16 is attempting to be the youngest person to sail solo across the world.



The two got in touch after reading about each other while blogging on the internet and since then have been exchanging notes on the weather, encouraging each other for the long journey ahead and warning each other for dangers.


While Jessica started off being a few hundred miles ahead of Dilip, earlier this week, the Indian Navy officer on his larger boat ‘ Mhadei’, surged ahead to cross the southern tip of South America to make his way to Africa. Donde left Mumbai on August 19, 2009 while Jessica left Sydney on October 19, 2009.


On New Year’s eve, the two even managed to talk to each other over the phone. “Finding it a bit odd to receive a phone call close to midnight, I picked up the phone and what a pleasant surprise! Jessica calling to wish me a happy New Year! Amongst all the New Year wishes I have received in all these years and at various places, I think I will cherish this one from this gutsy girl 350 Nm away and the nearest human being to me, as the most special,” Donde writes in his blog http://sagarparikrama.blogspot.com/ where he posts regular updates on his journey.


indianexpress.com

Manu Pubby