THE Indian Navy’s second ocean going sailboat INSV Tarini, embarked on the first Indian all-women circumnavigation of the globe on September 10, 2017 from Goa, India, flagged by Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s Defence minister.  In its circumnavigation, the boat has visited Freemantle, Australia; Lyttelton, New Zealand and Port Stanley, Falklands, and arrived in Cape Town for the final port call today, Friday, March 2, 2018.

For a sail boat’s voyage to qualify as circumnavigation, the voyage has to start and finish at the same port; cover a distance of at least 21,600 nautical miles; keep south of the three great capes of the Southern Hemisphere; cross all longitudes in the same direction; cross the equator twice; not use any canals and certainly not use the engine for propulsion.  These are the exacting standards under which the crew of INSV Tarini is currently sailing to be the first Indian women to have completed circumnavigation.

Upon arrival at Yacht Marina in Cape Town today, INSV Tarini and the crew members were received by Patricia de Lille, executive Mayor of Cape Town and E. M. Masanabo, a rear admiral (JG) SA Navy from the South African side and Ruchira Kamboj, high commissioner of India to South Africa, Abhishek Shukla, consul general of India in Cape Town and Manjit M. Thomas, a captain and Defence adviser, High Commission of India, Pretoria from the Indian side. Capetonians, including members of Indian diaspora also turned up in large numbers. So did students of St. Paul’s Primary School, Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town, who extended a warm welcome to the crew members of INSV Tarini.

The day of arrival of INSV Tarini in Cape Town also coincided with the festival of Holi which is being celebrated the world over today. Holi, the festival of colours signifies the victory of good over evil and this auspicious coincidence truly marked the accomplishment of the crew members and their tremendous grit, determination and perseverance. The festival was celebrated with crew members of INSV Tarini with a splash of colours and dash of drums.     INSV Tarini will berth in Cape Town till 14th March. During their stay in Cape Town, the crew members will have several engagements including formal calls on local leadership, media interaction, receptions, interaction with students in University of Western Cape.  It will also include the inauguration of a photo exhibition.  This will display images from the voyage and will be open to the public from the afternoon of 5th March 2018 at the Royal Cape Yacht Club.

– Mar. 2, 2018 @ 15:18 GMT |