3 oceans & a crew of 2 on historic voyage: Women Navy officers to return home after 8 months at sea
Lieutenant Commanders Dilna K. and Roopa A., sailing aboard Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, are bringing to a close the second edition of the Navy's Navika Sagar Parikrama, a pioneering expedition that marks the first-ever global circumnavigation by Indian women in a double-handed mode. The voyage was undertaken without port assistance and relied entirely on wind power for propulsion.
New Delhi: After eight months of sailing across the world's three largest oceans and navigating some of the remotest and most challenging maritime zones, two Indian Navy officers are set to return to Goa Thursday, achieving a rare feat in Indian Naval history—a double-handed circumnavigation under sail.
The expedition began on 2 October last year from the Naval Ocean Sailing Node in Goa.
Over the course of eight months, the officers covered a distance of 25,400 nautical miles (approximately 50,000 kilometres), sailing across the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and successfully rounding the three key capes recognised in global circumnavigation—Cape Leeuwin in Australia, Cape Horn in South America and the Cape of Good Hope in Africa.
The Navy confirmed that the mission adhered to all international circumnavigation norms, including crossing all meridians and returning to the starting point.
An official said that INSV Tarini encountered at least three cyclones and passed near 'Point Nemo', the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, often described as the remotest location on Earth's oceans. The duo sailed through sub-zero temperatures, persistent rain and wind speeds touching 50 knots, with waves rising over five metres.
Additionally, in mid-February, the vessel crossed Cape Horn, located just over 800 kilometres from Antarctica, a milestone known in sailing circles for its unpredictable and often dangerous conditions. Completing this leg under sail earned the officers the recognition of 'Cape Horners', a designation historically reserved for seafarers who successfully round Cape Horn without engine assistance.
The officers' achievement has drawn particular attention, not just for the endurance it required, but also for the preparation behind it.
Both were mentored and trained under Commodore Abhilash Tomy (Retd), a decorated naval sailor and solo circumnavigator who had made global headlines in 2023 after winning the Golden Globe Race—one of the most challenging solo sailing races in the world. Tomy's experience in ocean sailing, including surviving a near-fatal accident in the 2018 edition of the same race, was key in shaping the officers' readiness for high-risk offshore sailing.
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Diplomatic outreach, scientific objectives
During their expedition, the officers made four port calls—Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands) and Cape Town (South Africa). These stops, though not for assistance, were used for diplomatic outreach events organised by Indian embassies and missions.
The officers interacted with students, naval cadets, academics and members of the Indian diaspora. The Navy said that in Fremantle, the duo was also honoured as special invitees at the Western Australian Parliament.
Beyond sailing, the expedition also included scientific objectives. In collaboration with the National Institute of Oceanography and the Wildlife Institute of India, the officers collected data on marine microplastics, ferrous content in seawater and documented sightings of large sea mammals, contributing valuable information to marine research.
This mission follows the first Navika Sagar Parikrama in 2017-18, which saw a six-member all-woman Indian Navy crew circumnavigate the globe aboard the same vessel, INSV Tarini. The current expedition pushed the limits further by scaling down to a two-member crew, intensifying both the physical and operational demands of the voyage.
The Navy has further described the mission as a significant milestone in its efforts to foster gender inclusivity and leadership roles for women in operational domains. Both officers have undergone advanced training in navigation, meteorology and seamanship and were selected after multiple rounds of sea trials and evaluations.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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