Women Navy officers to return home after 8-month-long circumnavigation

New Delhi, May 27: After circumnavigating the globe in a sailboat over a span of eight months crossing some of the remotest places, two young women officers of the Indian Navy Lt Cdr Roopa A and Lt Cdr Dilna K are set to return home on Thursday.

The duo covered a distance of 25,600 nm (approx 50,000 km) across four continents, three oceans and three Great Capes in INSV Tarini, braving extreme weather conditions and challenging seas relying solely on sails and wind power.

They will be flagged in by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Mormugao port in Goa on May 29, sources said.

A week back, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi spoke to the two officers as they began their home bound journey after crossing over to the northern hemisphere.

Lt Cdrs Dilna and Roopa commenced their voyage from Goa on Oct 2 and braved the elements for over eight months negotiating the ‘roaring forties’, ‘furious fifties’ and ‘screaming sixties’ all alone.

They began the circumnavigation with port calls at Fremantle (Australia) and proceeded to Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands) and Cape Town (South Africa) before returning home.

The crew encountered three cyclones, navigated through the treacherous Drake Passage and successfully rounded Cape Horn.

They encountered winds up to 50 knots (93 kmph) coupled with stormy weather conditions and extremely cold temperatures during the journey, setting the ultimate test of human endurance, perseverance and sailing skills.

Though each leg had its own challenges, the third leg of the journey from Lyttleton to Port Stanley was one of the most arduous, an official said.

During the voyage, Lt Cdrs Dilna and Roopa crossed Point Nemo – the remotest location on earth – in the southern Pacific, which is nearly 2,700 km from the nearest landmass in January. This isolated point is famous for its extreme remoteness, with the closest human presence often being aboard the International Space Station orbiting above.

“The expedition has been a defining chapter in India's maritime history. The crew exemplified the spirit of exploration showcasing seafaring skills at a global stage,” said an official.