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Indian Express
08-06-2025
- Indian Express
How two women navy officers on INSV Tarini successfully navigated the globe: Their mentor explains
After sailing aboard INSV Tarini for nearly eight months across four continents, three oceans and three Great Capes, Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A sailed into history on May 29, becoming the first Indian duo to circumnavigate the globe without external assistance and relying solely on wind power. The officers covered a distance of 25,600 nautical miles in the expedition with port calls at Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands) and Cape Town (South Africa). Retired naval pilot Cdr Abhilash Tomy – the mentor for the expedition – holds the distinction of completing two single handed non-stop circumnavigations, including the Golden Globe Race in 2023, where he spent 236 days at sea alone with no technology. Speaking to The Indian Express, he talked about the training of the INSV Tarini crew, and the most difficult leg of the voyage. You have mentioned that the women officers executed a 'textbook' circumnavigation. What does that entail? I laid down three simple rules – no collision (do not hit anything), no grounding (do not put your boat on a rock) and no man overboard (no crew falling into the water). If you do the basics right, these three things will not happen. For instance, if you do navigation correctly, you will not have grounding and if your watchkeeping is correct, you will not have a collision. Another objective was that it should not take too long to finish the circumnavigation. We wanted to be conservative, yet fast in approach, so that we are able to arrive at each port with minimal damage to the boat. In sailing, it is said that heroics are not rewarded, but mistakes are punished. This was a circumnavigation where there were no heroics and no mistakes. The officers took care of the boat really well. The result is that the boat has returned in pristine shape. So, it was a 'textbook' circumnavigation. What went into training the INSV Tarini crew? Both officers had done about 20,000 nautical miles as part of the six-member crew during the trans-oceanic expedition from Goa to Rio de Janeiro via Cape Town. When you have six people, you can hide inside the boat. But in a circumnavigation of this sort, one has to know everything. So, I structured my approach by first having classroom sessions, where I explained the nitty-gritty of all the components – the shape of the hull, what performance to expect from a [sloop] rig, how to start the engine, what weather to expect. I also conducted some practical drills, where I taught them how to cast off, how to put the boat alongside [parking], and how to leave the jetty. As most scratches to the hull usually happen while parking, I took them to sail just outside the harbour and explained the shallow patches, what is the point of no return and how to deploy the anchor. I let them sail out solo after a couple of sea sorties with me onboard. We did a sortie to Karwar port where I joined them on the way out and they returned on their own. Then, we sent the boat to Port Blair and back with several stops. And finally, a training sortie from Goa to Mauritius and back on their own. What did you say to the officers before they cast off for the circumnavigation? I gave them a pep talk. I said 'do not tell yourself we are doing a circumnavigation'. I told them you have already sailed to Mauritius, just sail a bit further and you will get to Perth. Perth to Christchurch is a short hop – over 2000 miles. From New Zealand to the Falkland Islands is a tough leg. In the Pacific, I told them I will hand-hold and constantly monitor and guide them. I gave a basic template to follow – catch on to a particular latitude, reach up to a particular longitude and from that point till 'Cape Horn', make a mad rush when there is a weather window. En-route, they faced cyclones and we routed around them. From there, Falkland to Cape Town is the best leg since the weather is friendlier and the wind is behind you. What was your biggest fear about the voyage? The South Pacific leg, which is the longest with no diversions. What may happen is that there can be a big wave, something the boat cannot handle. It may start with a minor breakdown and quickly cascade to something big. The good thing about a big boat is that it does not topple or capsize quickly, but if something goes wrong, it requires a lot of effort to repair. The sail itself weighs 100 kilos. It is extremely tough for two people to change the main sail at sea. I changed it once in the Pacific, along with a crew, during a training voyage from Brazil to Cape Town. It took us seven hours and for the next 14 hours, we could not get up. In the middle of the Pacific, the officers had a navigation panel blackout for nearly three hours. It was a challenge, but the boat was set up to deal with it. During a navigation panel blackout, the electronic chart goes off and one cannot see any wind instruments. The crew had hand-held GPS, so in such a situation, they can plot their location on the chart. Another alternative is that the electronic charts were duplicated in their phones, so the crew could use their phones for navigation. Why is rounding 'Cape Horn' considered a major milestone for seafarers? Rounding 'Cape Horn' is the Holy Grail of sailing. Cape Horn is located near the southernmost tip of South America and just over 800 kms from Antarctica. One has to go through difficult and unpredictable weather conditions – storms, extreme winds and towering waves – to cross the Cape, and it is a leg which has no diversionary ports. So, if anything happens, you are on your own out there. People think that rounding Cape Horn is tough. It is not the rounding that is difficult. What is difficult is to reach there.
India Today
31-05-2025
- General
- India Today
Operation Sindoor is a symbol of power: PM Modi's strong rebuke to terrorists
2:33 Lt Commanders Dilna K and Roopa Alagirisamy of the Indian Navy completed Navika Sagar Parikrama II, a daring, eight-month circumnavigation aboard INSV Tarini.
News18
31-05-2025
- News18
PM Modi Lauds Women Naval Officers Who Sailed 50,000 Km. What Is Navika Sagar Parikrama?
Last Updated: Two women naval officers -- Lt Commander Dilna K and Lt Commander Roopa Alagirisamy -- returned to India after successful global circumnavigation spanning eight months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed women's empowerment in the country, especially in the armed forces, and cited the instance of two Indian Navy officers who successfully completed the circumnavigation of the globe under Navika Sagar Parikrama II. Lt Commander Dilna K and Lt Commander Roopa Alagirisamy returned to Goa on Thursday after culminating their eight-month voyage across four continents, three oceans, and three Great Capes. The second edition of the expedition was flagged off from the Naval Ocean Sailing Node, Goa, on October 2, 2024. The Prime Minister, while addressing a public meeting in Bhopal today, hailed their courage and said that they defeated all challenges and troubles in their way and emerged victorious. 'The brave Navy women personnel have successfully completed a voyage of oceans spanning 250 days. They visited all around the world. They did it on such a boat that does not run via motors but uses wind. We all know the storm in the oceans. The two daughters defeated all troubles like bad weather and storms of the oceans. This shows that no matter how big the challenge may be, Indian women can emerge victorious," he said. Notably, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the flag-in ceremony on Thursday, formally marking the success of the global circumnavigation. He received the two naval officers and said that they have made the nation proud by waving the Tricolour across the world. What Is Navika Sagar Parikrama II? The two Indian Navy women officers covered a distance of around 50,000 kilometers (47,041 km) in nearly 250 days aboard Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini. The expedition began on October 2 last year with an aim to cover over 23,400 nautical miles. The return was scheduled for May 2025. This was the second edition of the Navika Sagar Parikrama expedition that took place in 2018 with an all-women crew onboard. However, this time, only two officers featured on the vessel, who set out to cover the globe, significantly raising the challenges that may have arisen during the expedition. The expedition's route was planned with four major international stops, chosen for both practical and diplomatic reasons. The first important stop was on November 9, 2024, when INSV Tarini reached Fremantle, Australia, after a long and challenging 39-day journey covering over 4,900 nautical miles from Goa. The two officers then continued their voyage to Lyttelton, New Zealand, for their second international stop, and later continued to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, a British territory. With each stop, they had a chance to carry out maintenance, restock supplies, and take part in cultural exchanges, while also presenting India's naval strength in front of the world. Their fourth and last international stop was in Cape Town, South Africa. INSV Tarini was warmly welcomed in the country with the South African Naval Band holding a special welcome ceremony, showing the global respect the expedition had earned. From Cape Town, the vessel started its sail back to Goa on April 15, 2025.
Hans India
31-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 31st May 2025
A 'World No Tobacco Day' resolve May 31 is observed as World No Tobacco Day by the World Health Organization every year. The theme for 2025 is 'Burning products, exposing bad intentions,' which primarily aims to make people aware of the harmful impacts of tobacco consumption and its various other products on our health, including increasing the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases and heart-related illnesses. According to a survey, 42 per cent of men and 14 per cent of women in India consume tobacco. Products like bidis or plain tobacco are so inexpensive that the poor and labour class easily fall into the vicious trap of addiction. India has the highest number of cancer patients among men. While, globally, lung cancer is the most common cancer among men, in our country, oral cancer, also caused by tobacco consumption, takes a heavier toll among men due. We must take immediate steps—especially through various community groups, NGOs, and government initiatives—to reduce tobacco consumption. Only then can we save our country's poor and youth from this grave threat. Dr. Jitesh Mori Kutch, Gujarat Two women from Indian Navy create history Two women from the Indian Navy's sailing team aboard INSV Tarini returned after completing their mission, Navika Sagar Parikrama II. Commander Dilna K and Lt Commander Roopa A created history by becoming the first Indian women to circumnavigate the globe in a sailing vessel in double-handed mode—relying solely on each other, sails, and wind power. They also created several other records-their yacht Tarini becoming the first Indian sailing vessel to cross Point Nemo, the oceanic pole of inaccessibility; the crew also crossed the Roaring Forties, Prime Meridian, and the Cape of Good Hope, enduring some of the toughest sailing conditions on Earth. They have demonstrated that Indian women are ready to take up any ventures and prove their mettle. Indian women are gradually moving from a conservative nutshell into a progressive and liberal one, which augurs well for a fast-changing society. By defying all accompanying odds, Commander Dilna and Lt Commander Roopa have become role-models for the younger generation, especially our girls. M Pradyu, Kannur Kudos to first NDA women batch The first batch of women from the NDA has proven that they are second to none. Their achievements inspire countless others, embodying resilience and dedication. They've made our nation proud, ensuring that the tricolour continues to soar high. Hope more girls take up this wonderful career in the future. TS Karthik, Kilpauk, Chennai-10 RBI surplus: What's there for the people? The RBI's record surplus transfer of ₹2.11 lakh crore to the government has made the headlines — but will it reach household kitchens is the million-dollar question. In times of high inflation, job insecurity, and falling savings, numbers alone don't inspire hope. Unless this fiscal windfall is directed towards public welfare, employment generation, and economic revival, it's just ink on a ledger. Real growth isn't measured in reserves but in relief. Before the government pats itself on the back, it must answer: how does this gain benefit the struggling citizen? After all, surplus without support is a hollow celebration. Hasnain, MMERC, Mumbai 50% of IPL earning should go to defence fund We suggest that 50 per cent of the IPL earnings should go to the Union Government's, or PMO's 'Border-defence expenditure Fund'. This money should exclusively be used to e-monitor the border like installing CCTV cameras, drones, satellites; fencing walls wherever feasible around Pakistan and Bangladesh and to cover other military-related expenses. However, the priority should be 'peace talks' with Pakistan and put an end to all terrorist camps in Pakistan. In addition, every citizen of India (143 crore population) should pay at least one rupee to the defence fund. The revenue so generated can go a long way in becoming self-reliant. Sreelekha PS, Boudhnagar, Secunderabad-61
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Indian Express
‘7 lives in 8 months': Two women Navy officers brave navigation blackout, 20-foot waves, unforgiving cold in historic voyage around globe
'Yes, we made it,' beamed Lieutenant Commander Dilna K. 'I feel I have lived all my seven lives in these eight months,' said her fellow crew member, Lieutenant Commander Roopa A. With these words, the two women officers of the Indian Navy sailed into Goa's Mormugao port aboard INSV Tarini on Thursday evening, etching their names in history. After sailing for 239 days and covering 25,600 nautical miles across four continents, three oceans and three Great Capes, the sailors have become the first Indian duo to circumnavigate the globe without external assistance and relying solely on wind power. 'On October 2, we left Goa with a lot of hope and courage. Today, we stand here alive and strong together,' said Lt Cdr Dilna. The expedition was a promise she made to her father. 'He is no more with me, but his presence was felt throughout the journey,' she said. The officers recalled how, 'in the dead of a night', when they were trying to steer clear of a cyclone, they had a 'complete navigation panel blackout' in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. 'We lost the GPS, boat heading, wind instrument, autopilot… It took us three hours, but it felt like an eternity to get the systems back under control,' said Lt Cdr Roopa. 'We saw the ocean and waves raging in anger on some days, with waves as high as 20 feet tall hitting us like a wall. But we also had days when the sea was as calm as a mirror… And we lived through all of this in unforgiving cold, which almost froze us. The world of the sea… it's the same planet, but a whole different world out there. I have seen the sea glow at night, the sky filled with galaxies, shooting stars and sheer darkness that brings the mind and body to peace,' she said. During the voyage, the crew recounted facing winds up to 50 knots and stormy weather as they navigated through the treacherous Drake Passage and rounded Cape Horn. The third leg of the journey from Lyttleton to Port Stanley was especially arduous. 'There are rarely any records of someone being at the exact coordinates of Point Nemo — the ocean's remotest location from any land, where the closest humans are in the space station. Well, it's not so remote anymore for us Indians. Then, there was Drake Passage and rounding Cape Horn — the Everest of every sailor, and also their nightmare. Halfway around the world, the sea humbled us and made us students again,' said Dilna. Speaking at the flag-in ceremony of INSV Tarini, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the two officers for their courage, commitment and endurance in completing the historic circumnavigation expedition, and termed their voyage the epitome of nari shakti. Singh also mentioned Operation Sindoor. 'The women pilots and other women soldiers played a crucial role in the effective action taken by India against terrorism in Pakistan and PoK during Operation Sindoor,' he said. The Defence Minister said that ever since the participation of women in the armed forces has increased, they have performed exceptionally well in every role and fulfilled every responsibility. 'From the heights of Siachen to the depths of the ocean, Indian women are fulfilling many responsibilities, which has further bolstered the security circle of the country. Today, the doors of Sainik Schools are open for girls, and 17 women are passing out from the National Defence Academy this month,' Singh said. The expedition was flagged off from INS Mandovi in Goa on October 2, 2024, as part of the second edition of Navika Sagar Parikrama.
