From April 2006 to May 2010 he planned and executed Project 'Sagar Parikrama'[1] which involved constructing a sailboat in India and then sailing it around the world.

[2] The voyage was the first of the Indian Navy's project Sagar Parikrama, initiated by late Vice-Admiral Manohar Prahlad Awati (Retd).

Over the next four years he built a boat with an Indian boat-builder, trained himself and sailed solo around the world with four stops en route.

Ansari stated, "Donde has shown that skill, determination and courage can achieve what is considered to be immensely difficult, if not impossible.".

Dilip Donde mentored Lt Cdr Abhilash Tomy and headed the shore support team to plan and execute Sagar Parikrama 2, the first solo nonstop circumnavigation by an Indian.