Naval women officers' team set to complete historic circumnavigation
Panaji:
The two naval officers, Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa Alagirisamy, who sailed out of Goa on Oct 2 as the first-ever Indian duo to circumnavigate Earth, are a whisper away from Goa's coastline.
The two women will arrive at Mormugao port on May 29, completing an eight-month-long voyage, sailing into history books.
Their return will mark the successful conclusion of a 21,800-nautical-mile journey onboard INSV Tarini, the Indian Navy's iconic sailboat. The circumnavigation took them through four oceans, crossing the equator twice and rounding the five Great Capes — a route acknowledged globally as the gold standard in ocean sailing.
'The Tarini is doing about 120-150 nautical miles a day and is quite close. The early onset of the monsoon was a bit of a surprise and a last-minute challenge,' said a source.
The voyage tested not just endurance but training imparted by the Navy. The officers navigated some of the world's most hostile waters, including the South Pacific and the Southern Ocean. They battled towering waves, gale-force winds, and long spells of isolation with only each other for company and the Tarini as their shelter.
This mission, said naval officers, was part of the Navy's broader initiative to showcase women's role in maritime operations. It also aimed to inspire a new generation of women to embrace adventure and take to the seas — a domain long dominated by men.
The duo trained extensively at the Ocean Sailing Node in Goa under the watchful gaze of solo circumnavigator Cdr Abhilash Tomy (retd). Their voyage was closely monitored by the Indian Navy, but the officers were largely self-reliant once they left port.
INSV Tarini, named after the Tara Tarini temple in Odisha, earlier carried out the historic Navika Sagar Parikrama in 2017-18, when an all-women crew became the first Indian team to circumnavigate the globe. This current expedition, however, marks the first time an Indian woman duo has achieved the feat — without additional crew.
The arrival at Mormugao will be marked by a ceremonial welcome attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh, naval brass, defence ministry officials and families of the sailors.
A debrief and formal recognition ceremony is also planned in the days ahead.
'A sail parade is being planned to welcome the two adventurers on May 29. The sailing fraternity will be there for welcoming them,' said an official.
With this voyage, Lt Cdr Dilna and Lt Cdr Roopa join a select club of global sailors who completed circumnavigations under sail.
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