Girls Who Sailed

Those who live by the sea can hardly form a single thought of which the sea would not be part.” When the 20th Century Austrian writer, Hermann Broch, wrote the above lines, he wouldn’t have known that years later, it would apply to six seafaring Indian women who are out to circumnavigate the globe she was powered not just by the winds but also the thirst of adventure.

Few things we didn't know about TARINI are stated below :
1. Indian Navy Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, is 17 meters long, five meters wide and has a displacement of 23 tonnes. The vessel was named INSV Tarini, after the Tara Tarini temple.

2. The construction was diligently overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team, Goa.
3.The expedition, on Tarini, was named “Navika Sagar Parikrama”. A six-woman navy crew kicked off their voyage to circumnavigate the globe in the first week of September 2017, from Goa.

4. The ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’ also substantially makes a strong feminist statement. The all-women crew carrying out the expedition on their own, with full support from the country, does make a definitive, empowering statement.

5. The circumnavigation journey was covered in five legs. The stopovers were at four ports — Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), and Cape Town (South Africa). With a little halt in Mauritius because of the default in the boat.

7. The voyages signify the Make in India initiative of the government by sailing on board an Indian-built INSV Tarini. It also encourages the use of environment-friendly, non-conventional renewable energy since the ship harnesses the wind. The crew also monitored and reported marine pollution levels.

It wasn't 8th of March when these 6 Bravehearts decided to go for this Circumnavigation lead by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, which included Lt-Commanders Pratibha Jamwal and Swati P, and Lieutenants Aishwarya Boddapati, S Vijaya Devi and Payal Gupta. It is the first all-woman military team and the first Asian women’s team to attempt circumnavigation.Through this journey, India has also set a benchmark in marine history than Women are no less than men and shows Nari Shakti on a world platform. This also changes the mindset of so many people that Women can participate in Challenging Situations.

The Indian Navy has grown immensely over the years and in the past 10 years many circumnavigations have taken place and all of us are hoping to see more of it in the future. Being one of the major lines of defense Navy is also promoting these expeditions for women.

Apart from the officers It was a tuff decision for the family as well but they believed in their daughters and let them set sail. On reading different interviews by the crew they said that the Indian Navy was constantly in contact with them. Thanks to technology which helped them survive!

Sailors are superstitious but these 6 ladies proved them wrong and conquered their fears and came around the world in 254 days. Navigating through the rough seas and harsh weather wasn't an easy job and they did it jointly and the entire nation is proud of them!

"The sea is a great tutor sometimes it's calm as a mirror next moment it's a howling demon trying to smash you with its waves. If you develop courage in such a changing medium then you've achieved it all " said Dilip Donde the first Indian naval officer to solo circumnavigate.