Navy sailing rally concludes

Kochi, Apr 13 (UNI) The Mumbai-Kochi Indian Navy sailing rally, aimed at promoting offshore sailing in the Navy and providing an opportunity to the participants to understand the vagaries of nature and the sea, in J24 class boats concluded at the Naval base here today.

Forty-five participants from the Western, Eastern and Southern Naval Commands and the Andaman Nicobar Command in nine J24 class sailing yachts with five crew each were flagged off by Adm Arun Prakash, Chief of Naval Staff, at Mumbai on April four.

The rally was conducted in two legs with first leg from Mumbai to Goa and the second from Goa to Kochi.

The boats arrived in Goa after covering 225 nautical miles in the first leg, ahead of schedule on April six. After rest and recuperation, the second leg was flagged off from Goa on April eight. The sailing team arrived here yesterday, the finishing point of the rally, covering 375 nautical miles despite unfavourable wind and heat conditions.

The chief guest for the closing ceremony RAdm Rajender Singh, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, presented the trophy and cash prizes to the winners and runners-up at the closing ceremony held at the Southern Naval Command.

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