Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flags-off all-women crew of Navika Sagar Parikrama from Panaji

The crew of the ‘Sagar Parikrama’ comprises of six-member all women team on board the sailing vessel INSV Tarini. (Source: Expres photo by Smita Nair)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate and wish the team on their journey. he tweeted, “Today is a special day! 6 women officers of the Navy begin their journey of circumnavigating the globe on board INSV Tarini. The entire nation comes together in wishing the all-women team of Navika Sagar Parikrama the very best in their remarkable endeavour.”

This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. (Source: Expres photo by Smita Nair)

Meet the all-women crew:

The team comprises of- Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi and Lt Payal Gupta from Uttarakhand, Lt Cdr Pratibha Jamwal from Himachal, Lt Cdr P Swathi from Andhra Pradesh, Lt Aishwarya Boddapati from Telangana and Lt Shourgrakpam Vijaya Devi hailing from Manipur.

# Vartika Joshi has rich sailing experience and has led INSV Mhadei as well as INSV Tarini.

# Pratibha Jamwal has sailed from Goa to Port Blair, Goa to Mauritius and Goa to Cape Town.

# P Swathi who sailed onboard INSV Mhadei also took part in the recent Cape to Rio race.

# Aishwarya Boddapati has sailed onboard INSV Tarini and Mhadei in 2017 and 2016 respectively.

# Vijaya Devi has sailed extensively from 2014 onwards.

# Payal Gupta has distinguished herself as a sailor.

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