The first ever all Indian women Navy crew aboard Mhadei reached Cape Town on Friday. They had set sail from Goa in early November to participate in the ‘Cape to Rio 2017’ race organised by the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC), Cape Town, in January next year.
Headed by Cpt Vartika Joshi, the all-women crew were trained at the newly set up Ocean Sailing Node in Goa which is controlled by Capt Atool Sinha. An Asian Games Silver medallist, Sinha has also participated in the race and will be in the team, said the Indian Navy.
The women’s crew is solidly increasing their sea legs this year as they completed thousands of nautical miles of voyages. First, they started off from Vishakhapatnam in the east coast and went all the way to Goa on the west coast, which is about 2000 nautical miles away, in February. Then in July they set off sail from Goa to Mauritius, covering a distance of 4000 nm and back.
But the Cape Town to Rio will be the highest achievement in their sailing careers. The 45-day long journey is a gruelling one.
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“Their grit, determination and courage is an inspiration to all Indians and is a testimony to women's empowerment in modern India. This crew is set to attempt the first Indian all-women circumnavigation of the globe in 2017," the Indian Navy said, as reported by One India.
The women’s crew includes Lt Swathi, Aishwarya, Pratibha, Vijaya and Payal who all belong to various different professions like naval architects, air traffic controllers and education officers by profession. However, they are united by the sole passion for sailing.
Picture credit- Indian Express
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