INSV Tarini crew back after completing historic voyage

Among the crew, the two women officers – Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A – undertook the entire expedition from Goa to Rio de Janeiro via Cape Town and back – sailing for 188 days on the vessel. The women officers have now set their sights on training for the Navy’s next endeavour – to send a woman on a solo circumnavigation of the globe.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and others welcome INSV Tarini at Goa harbour, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The six-member crew aboard INSV Tarini completed a 17000nm trans-ocean inter-continental voyage after 188 days. (PTI Photo)

Other participants in the crew include Capt Atool Sinha, Lt Cdr Ashutosh Sharma, Lt Aviral Keshav, Cdr Nikhil Hegde, Cdr MA Zulfikar, Cdr Divya Purohit, and Cdr AC Doke.

“This journey was important because it was part of a preparatory sortie for the solo circumnavigation,” said Lt Cdr Dilna K, who hails from Kerala. “I always wanted to do something adventurous and different. After joining the navy, I took up sailing and when volunteers were being sought for the expedition, I jumped at the opportunity,” she added.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar with others welcome the crew members of INSV Tarini at Goa harbour, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The six-member crew aboard INSV Tarini completed a 17000nm trans-ocean inter-continental voyage after 188 days. (PTI Photo)

The crew recounted their voyage on the vessel – their home for six months – which included sailing through a major storm, spotting dolphins, reading books of previous sailing expeditions, watching movies, cooking with dry rations and mostly maintenance of the sailboat.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani interacts with crew members of INSV Tarini at Goa harbour, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The six-member crew aboard INSV Tarini completed a 17000nm trans-ocean inter-continental voyage after 188 days. (PTI Photo)

“In April, near the south of the South African coast, we experienced a 60-knot storm with gale force winds and waves up to 10-20 feet. It caused a tear in the sail and some equipment was damaged. The storm lasted for more than 24 hours, but we tactfully went through it and when it subsided, we all repaired the sail. That was a learning experience,” said Lt Cdr Roopa A.

A typical day at sea meant the crew ‘kept a watch’ in groups of two every four hours.

“Watch-keeping essentially entails looking for changes in wind patterns or any merchant traffic, and adjusting accordingly to any emergency since winds can change quickly. The sleep patterns also vary depending on the watch schedule. I used to maintain hourly logs to record any changes in weather or wind. We had a fleeting broadband connection through which we stayed connected with our families and with the Navy,” added Lt Cdr Roopa A.

The officers said a majority time on board is spent in setting up sails as winds keep changing.

“Maintenance of equipment is the most important activity on board,” said Lt Cdr Dilna K.

Appreciating the arduous journey undertaken by the Tarini crew, Irani said that such achievements should be recorded for posterity and shared with the entire nation to encourage and motivate young boys and girls to not only join the armed forces, but to also serve the nation with pride and honour.

Hailing it as a ‘historic’ achievement, Admiral R Hari Kumar said, “The achievement of crew in navigating through adverse weather conditions and undertaking in-house repairs whenever needed are shining examples of innovation and ingenuity which our countrymen possess.”

He also hailed the achievements of Cdr Abhilash Tomy (Retd), who recently finished second in the Golden Globe Race 2022 – considered to be among the toughest solo around the world sailing race.