INSV Tarini set to circumnavigate the globe, 6 women Navy officers set to create history

The women-crew of Navy officers aboard the sail boat will set off on their global expedition

It is an adventure of a lifetime and a matter of pride for the Indian Navy and the country. Six Navy officers will set sail to circumnavigate the globe aboard the INSV Tarini on Sunday. In a never-before attempted adventure, officers of the Indian Navy will sail 22,000 nautical miles and the adventure begins on Sunday.

A special day, says PM Modi

Defence minister Nirmala Sitaraman will flag off the Indian Navy women crew's attempt to circumnavigate the globe in Panaji on Sunday. The adventure of a lifetime to create history by Indian Navy women officers will be flagged off from INS Mandovi Boat Pool, Verem, near Panaji.

Women of grit

Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi, Lt Cdr Pratibha Jamwal, Lt Cdr P Swathi, Lt Aishwarya Boddapati, Lt Shourgrakpam Vijaya Devi, Lt. Payal Gupta will attempt to circumnavigate the globe on the sailing vessel, INSV Tarini. The entire voyage is expected to be completed around March next year. The women sailors will cover the entire distance in five legs. The crew will have stop overs at four ports for replenishment of ration and repairs as necessary.

‘Navika Sagar Parikrama'

This is a never-before attempted circumnavigation and is sure to put India on the world map for taming the seas. The officers have trained extensively for the mission. They will have stop overs at Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands) and Cape Town (South Africa). Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the crew before they set off to Goa from where the journey to a world record will begin.

Putting perspective on women in combat roles

The six volunteers of the Indian Navy who have signed up for the circumnavigation hope that this opens the doors for women in combat roles in India. The Indian Navy's second ocean going sailboat Tarini was inducted in February earlier this year. The team has logged over 10,000 Nautical Miles on INSV Mhadei, including a voyage from India to Mauritius and back and Goa to Cape Town braving through rough monsoon seas and heavy wind. Sunday will mark the beginning of their adventurous voyage, an inspiration to thousands across the globe.

OneIndia News