Mumbai, Nov 24 (IANS) Barely six months after he completed a solo voyage around the world on Indian Navy sail boat 'Mhadei', Commander Dilip Donde leaves Thursday on a non-stop sailing expedition from Goa to Cape Town, an official said.

The voyage will take around 50 days across the Indian Ocean and this time Commander Donde will have the company of Lt. Commander Abhilash Tomy, Lt. Commander Khajuria, and Chief Petty Officer Pankaj Singh as his crew members.

The voyage by Mhadei will culminate in participation in the Trans Atlantic Race of sailing boats commencing mid-January from Cape Town to the Rio De Janiero in Brazil, south America.

This is the first time an Indian team will participate in a trans-Atlantic race.

The Mhadei has been completely refurbished at Goa after its solo circumnavigation trip successfully completed by Commander Donde this year.

Donde returned after 276 days to Mumbai May 22 this year after his solo circumnavigation of the globe in the Mhadei.