PANAJI
The second edition of Navika Sagar Parikrama, a historic circumnavigation of the globe, was flagged off from INS Mandovi, today. Two Indian Navy officers, Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A, are embarking on the voyage aboard INSV Tarini, marking the first-ever circumnavigation by Indian women in double-handed mode.
Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, officiated the flag-off ceremony, lauding the journey as a witness to Nari Shakti and India’s maritime prominence.
The Navika Sagar Parikrama II will cover over 21,600 nautical miles (approximately 40,000 km) in five legs with stopovers at four ports for replenishment and maintenance. The voyage will span the following routes: Goa to Fremantle, Australia, Fremantle to Lyttleton, New Zealand, Lyttleton to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, Port Stanley to Cape Town, South Africa and Cape Town to Goa
Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A, who have logged a combined sailing experience of 38,000 nautical miles (70,376 km), have undergone rigorous training for more than three years. Under the mentorship of retired naval officer Cdr Abhilash Tomy since August 2023, they have fine-tuned their ocean sailing skills, survival techniques, and psychological conditioning, making them well-equipped to face the challenges of this circumnavigation.
