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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.
NDTV
29-05-2025
- General
- NDTV
"Same Planet, Different World": INSV Tarini Crew Completes Global Voyage
Panaji: "The world of the sea is the same planet but a whole different world," said Lt Cdr Roopa A of the Indian Navy on Thursday as she and her partner Lt Cdr Dilna K returned to Goa after successfully circumnavigating the globe in a sailing boat. The duo, with back-up support from the Navy, covered more than 25,600 nautical miles in 238 days in INSV Tarini, their sailing boat. It was the first circumnavigation of the globe in a sailing vessel by Indian women in 'double-handed' mode, said a Navy spokesperson. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh welcomed the two intrepid women and their vessel upon the completion of the eight-month 'Navika Sagar Parikrama II (NSP II)' expedition at Mormugao Port Authority in Vasco. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, who had flagged off the expedition on October 2 last year, was also present. The whole country was proud of the achievement of the two women officers, Singh said. "You have not just gone around Earth but you have also made a place in the heart of every Indian," he said, calling them "the country's brave daughters". "After meeting you both today, I feel as if a father is meeting his two daughters," the minister added. Women have played a pivotal role in the Indian Defence system since gaining entry, and women officers played an important role in aerial attacks on Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir during Operation Sindoor, he said. Admiral Tripathi said Navika Sagar Parikrama II was a historic milestone for the Navy. The defence minister's interaction with the crew during the expedition gave them moral support, he added. Speaking on the occasion, Lt Cdr Dilna K said, "Yes, we made it. "On October 2, we left Goa with lot of hope and we stand here alive and strong together," she said. They flew the national flag and the Indian Navy flag across the globe, she said, adding, "Wherever we landed, we were cheered. We proudly represented India in this journey of lifetime." The expedition was a promise she had made to her father, Dilna said, adding, "He is no more with me, but I felt his presence throughout the journey. My mother and my husband held me really strong. And you let me fly. I wish everyone get a husband like mine." Talking about her experiences, Lt Cdr Roopa A said she felt like she lived all her seven lives in these eight months. "The world of the sea is the same planet but whole different world," she said. Referring to her partner Dilna, Roopa said, "In this voyage I found a friend in you and a friend in myself whom I can trust lifelong." Her family has been her "spine" throughout her life as she made unconventional choices, she said, adding, "I dedicate this journey to you all (family) but this is not going to be my last. There was no end to the earth or challenges in this journey." Talking about some of the more difficult moments in the voyage, she recalled a night when they had a navigation panel "black-out". "It took us three hours, but felt like an eternity to get back the control," she added. They saw different moods of the ocean. "(At times) The waves were 20 feet high. We also had the days when sea was calm, we felt sea was heavenly. We lived in the cold which froze us. Even today when we were approaching the coast, the monsoon kept us on the toes," she said. The journey showed the world what Indian women are made of, Roopa said, adding that there was a point during the journey when they realised "this is an Indian dream which we were breathing and living." The expedition was flagged off on October 2, 2024 by Admiral Tripathi from the Boat pool of INS Mandovi in Goa. After 39 days of non-stop voyage across the Indian Ocean, INSV Tarini made her first land-fall at Fremantle, Australia, on November 9, the Navy spokesperson said. "In their second stop, having traversed 4,450 nautical miles after crossing the Great Australian Bight and the Tasman Sea, they arrived at Lyttelton, the port of Christchurch, New Zealand, on December 22, 2024," the spokesperson said. Subsequently, marking the "most demanding and dramatic leg" of the expedition, the crew arrived at Port Stanley on February 18, 2025. "One of the most significant achievement of this leg was that Tarini became the first sail ship to cross Point Nemo in South Pacific, often referred to as the Oceanic Pole of inaccessibility, on January 30," the spokesperson said. Having traversed 3,896 nautical miles and crossing the Prime Meridian and braving the 'Roaring Forties', the Tarini reached Cape Town, South Africa on March 31, 2025, and then started its homeward journey.
Mint
29-05-2025
- General
- Mint
Did Rajnath Singh officially confirm women pilots' role in Operation Sindoor on terror infra in Pakistan?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday praised the exceptional role of women in the Indian Armed Forces, offering what appears to be the first official confirmation of women pilots and soldiers playing a significant part in Operation Sindoor — India's recent counter-terrorism campaign against Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "During Operation Sindoor, women pilots and other women soldiers have played an important role in the action against terrorism in Pakistan and PoK," Rajnath Singh said on Thursday. Addressing the flag-in ceremony of the Indian Navy Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, which completed its nearly eight-month-long circumnavigation of the globe under the voyage 'Navika Sagar Parikrama II', Rajnath Singh highlighted the bravery and dedication of the female crew members Lieutenant Commander Roopa A and Lieutenant Commander Dilna K. The vessel reached Goa's coast earlier on Thursday, having set sail from the Naval Ocean Sailing Node in Goa on 2 October 2024. Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh commended the crew's extraordinary feat of navigating approximately 25,000 nautical miles (around 45,000 kilometres) across the vast oceans. 'To travel such a distance while facing the loneliness of the sea is a remarkable act of courage,' he remarked. Rajnath Singh empathised with the isolation endured by the sailors, noting the absence of human contact and even wildlife during their prolonged voyage. The Defence Minister emphasised the growing and vital role of women across the Indian Armed Forces. 'Today, the daughters of our country are fulfilling their responsibilities with distinction, from the heights of Siachen to the depths of the sea,' he said. He noted that military institutions have progressively opened their doors to women, citing the recent passing out of 17 women cadets from the National Defence Academy (NDA) this month. Most notably, Singh confirmed the active participation of women in Operation Sindoor, stating, 'During Operation Sindoor, women pilots and other women soldiers have played an important role in the action against terrorism in Pakistan and PoK.' On 21 May, Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi interacted with the INSV Tarini crew as they crossed into the Northern Hemisphere, marking the final leg of their circumnavigation. The Indian Navy praised their exemplary skills, team spirit, and the pride they brought to the nation. The vessel's return journey was ceremonially flagged off from the Royal Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town, South Africa, on 15 April, with dignitaries and members of the Indian diaspora in attendance.
NDTV
29-05-2025
- NDTV
3 Cyclones, 50 Knot Winds: INSV Tarini's 8-Month Sea Voyage Ends Today
New Delhi: Braving three cyclones, 50 knot winds, choppy seas and treacherous passages, INSV Tarini's crew will receive a hero's welcome when it sails into Goa today after an eight-month voyage. Two women officers - Lieutenant Commander Roopa A and Lieutenant Commander Dilna K - began the voyage Navika Sagar Parikrama - II on October 2 last year that was to span four continents and circumnavigate the globe, covering a distance of 25,400 nautical miles. As the proud flag bearers of resurgent India, the officers commenced their circumnavigation with port calls at Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands) and Cape Town (South Africa). The crew onboard Tarini also successfully crossed the Cape of Good Hope, braving persistent rain, high-velocity winds and large waves. The most arduous third leg of the journey from Lyttleton to Port Stanley saw the crew encountering three cyclones, navigating through the treacherous Drake Passage and successfully rounding Cape Horn. The duo, famously called #DilRoo, braved extreme weather—50 knot winds, 3 cyclones, freezing seas—and navigated the treacherous Drake Passage & Cape Horn. Their journey included port calls at Fremantle, Lyttleton, Port Stanley & Cape Town, with outreach engagements, inspiring… — Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 27, 2025 They engaged in numerous diplomatic and outreach engagements, interacting with parliamentarians, Indian community, school children, naval cadets and university faculty across the globe. "Over a period of eight months, the naval duo (now famously called '#DilRoo') covered a distance of 25,400 nautical miles (approximately 50,000 km) across four continents, three oceans and three Great Capes, braving extreme weather conditions and challenging seas relying solely on sails and wind power," the Indian Navy spokesperson said. As they near home after crossing over into the Northern Hemisphere, the crew will be welcomed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Mormugao Port, Goa. The Navy called the expedition a "defining chapter in India's maritime history". "The crew exemplified the spirit of exploration showcasing seafaring skills at a global stage. It has been a journey of empowerment, innovation and commitment to India's maritime heritage charting new paths for a brighter and empowered future. It reaffirms Indian Navy's pledge to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and responsibility across the vast expanse of the world's oceans," it said.
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First Post
29-05-2025
- First Post
3 cyclones, 4 continents, 50,000 km: How 2 Indian Navy women officers completed historic voyage
Two women officers of the Indian Navy, Lieutenant Commander Roopa A and Lieutenant Commander Dilna K, will arrive in Goa on Thursday after completing a historic voyage across the world's three largest oceans. Covering 25,400 nautical miles (around 50,000 km) and touching four continents, they sailed through stormy weather and faced three cyclones. The officers were part of the crew of 'Navika Sagar Parikrama', which set out aboard INSV Tarini from Goa on October 2 last year read more Lieutenant Commander Roopa A and Lieutenant Commander Dilna K will arrive in Goa. Image: Indian Navy Two women officers of the Indian Navy have completed a historic journey across the world's three largest oceans, braving rough seas, cyclones, and some of the most remote maritime regions. The Indian Navy is preparing to welcome the crew of 'Navika Sagar Parikrama', who travelled aboard INSV Tarini. Lieutenant Commander Roopa A and Lieutenant Commander Dilna K are expected to arrive in Goa on Thursday (May 29, 2025). Notably, INSV Tarini began its expedition from Goa on October 2 last year. The mission aimed to sail around the globe without any external support, using only wind power. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In this explainer, we look at who the two Navy officers are, how they tackled storms and harsh weather, and how they travelled across four continents over eight months. Let's take a look: Two women officers of Indian Navy and the mission: All you need to know Over eight months, two Indian Navy officers, often referred to as '#DilRoo', sailed 25,400 nautical miles (around 50,000 km) across four continents, three oceans and three Great Capes. Relying only on sails and wind, they faced tough sea conditions and extreme weather throughout the journey. Lieutenant Commander Roopa A and Lieutenant Commander Dilna K, aboard INSV Tarini, are set to return to Goa on Thursday. #NavikaSagarParikrama_II#IndianNavy's expedition of circumnavigating the globe by two women officers - Lt Cdr Dilna & Lt Cdr Roopa onboard #INSVTarini. Flagged off from Goa on #02Oct 24 by Adm Dinesh K Tripathi #CNS. Watch The Journey So Far ⬇️ 177 Days - 19400 nm (36000 km)… — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 28, 2025 This will mark the completion of the second edition of the Navy's Navika Sagar Parikrama, a landmark voyage, and the first time Indian women have circumnavigated the globe in a two-member crew. The journey began on October 2 last year from the Naval Ocean Sailing Node in Goa. The Navy confirmed that the expedition followed all international rules for circumnavigation, which include crossing every meridian and returning to the original starting point. In a press note, the Indian Navy said, 'The expedition symbolises India's maritime endeavours, showcasing the nation's prominence in global maritime activities and Indian Navy's commitment to excellence and Nari Shakti signifying the motto 'Courageous Hearts Boundless Seas'.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During their voyage, the officers made port calls at Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands), and Cape Town (South Africa). They took part in several outreach and diplomatic activities, meeting with parliamentarians, Indian communities, school children, naval trainees, and university staff in different parts of the world. They were also invited as special guests to the Western Australian Parliament in honour of their efforts. Western Australian Parliament felicitated the crew of Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini, which is undertaking a global circumnavigation expedition 'Navika Sagar Parikrama II'. #NavikaSagarParikrama_II@CGIPerth @indiannavy @IndiannavyMedia @MEAIndia — India in Australia (@HCICanberra) November 15, 2024 According to the Navy, their achievement has drawn praise from local communities, global sailing organisations and international lawmakers, and stands as a 'beacon of women empowerment, maritime excellence and national pride'. How the Navy officers battled stormy weather and cyclones During their journey, the crew dealt with winds reaching up to 50 knots (93 kmph), stormy weather and freezing temperatures. 'It set the ultimate test of human endurance, perseverance and sailing skills,' the Navy said. While every leg of the trip came with its own hurdles, the third stretch from Lyttleton to Port Stanley proved to be the toughest. The officers faced three cyclones and crossed the dangerous Drake Passage before rounding the feared Cape Horn. 'The circumnavigation highlights the unwavering spirit, exceptional valour, courage and perseverance of the officers amidst challenging conditions of the sea and nature,' the Navy said in the press release. The cyclones were encountered near 'Point Nemo', known as the 'Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility', the point in the ocean farthest from any land, according to a report by The Indian Express. In mid-February, the crew rounded Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America, around 800 km from Antarctica, braving continuous rain, fierce winds and waves taller than five metres. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This earned them the honour of being called 'Cape Horners', which is usually given to sailors who pass Cape Horn under sail. Notably, INSV Tarini, named after the Tara Tarini temple in Odisha, had earlier completed the first Navika Sagar Parikrama in 2017–18, when an all-women crew became the first Indian team to sail around the world. This expedition is the first time an Indian woman duo has done it without any additional crew. What next? The crew's arrival at Mormugao will be marked by a ceremonial reception attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, senior Navy officials, Ministry of Defence representatives, and the officers' families. A formal debrief and recognition event will follow in the coming days. 'A sail parade is being planned to welcome the two adventurers on May 29. The sailing fraternity will be there to welcome them,' an official told The Times of India. In its statement, the Navy said, 'The crew exemplified the spirit of exploration, showcasing seafaring skills at a global stage. It has been a journey of empowerment, innovation and commitment to India's maritime heritage, charting new paths for a brighter and empowered future.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
