Enthusiastic reception and fond farewell to INSV Tarini in South Island

Blessen Tom
Auckland, January 9, 2025

The Indian community in the South Island bid farewell to the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini on Sunday, January 5, 2025.

The Navika Sagar Parikrama II Expedition departed from Goa on 2 October 2024 as a part of a bid by two female sailors of the Indian Navy to circumnavigate the globe.

The vessel left Lyttelton Port near Christchurch for Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, embarking on the third leg of its circumnavigation expedition.

“This is the longest leg of the expedition, covering approximately 10,400 kms. The vessel will be crossing the South Pacific, passing through the treacherous Drake Passage, and crossing Cape Horn to reach Port Stanley,” India’s Defence Ministry said in a statement.

INSV Tarini arrived in Lyttelton on 22 December 2024, after a 28-day journey from Fremantle, Australia, which spanned about 6500 kms.

Enthusiastic Reception

The crew was welcomed by representatives of the Indian High Commission in Wellington, as well as members of the Indian and Māori communities.

During their stay in New Zealand, the crew conducted repairs and maintenance on the vessel, focusing on preparations for the challenging upcoming leg.

About 50 members of the Indian community attended the farewell ceremony, including Christchurch Multicultural Council President Surinder Tandon.

“I was fortunate to see INSV Tarini in 2017 and now again in 2024. The community visited the vessel over the weekend, engaging with the sailors and exploring the vessel. I am not sure if Tarini will return to New Zealand, but we would love to welcome them back,” he said.

In December 2017, a six-member crew led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi docked in Lyttelton for two weeks, interacting with the local community and sharing India’s maritime history. “It is incredibly inspiring to witness these brave sailors,  not just as role models for women, but for everyone,” he said.

Members of the Māori community also participated in the farewell ceremony.

Two naval officers from India, including retired Commander Abhilash Tomy, were also present.

Tomy, the first Indian to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe, was a mentor to the crew. The Indian High Commission in Wellington said that the officers had been preparing for this expedition for three years.

Lieutenant commanders Roopa Alagirisamy and Dilna Kunnummal, the two female sailors on the Navika Sagar Parikrama II expedition, received training under Tomy’s guidance.

“The circumnavigation of INSV Tarini is a significant milestone in India’s ocean sailing enterprise, showcasing the nation’s maritime capabilities and commitment to gender equality on the high seas,” the High Commission said.

The expedition aimed to cover approximately 40,000 kms over eight months aboard the 17-metre-long vessel. Provisions were stocked for the next leg to Port Stanley, after which the crew plans to sail to Cape Town, South Africa, before returning to Goa.

Blessen Tom is a Journalist at Radio New Zealand. The above Report and pictures have been published under a special agreement with www.rnz.co.nz

Our Staff Reporter adds:

INSV Tarini is the second sailboat of the Indian Navy, built at Aquarius Shipyard in Goa. After undergoing extensive sea trials, the Vessel was commissioned by the Indian Navy Service on 18 February 2017.

Named after the Tara Tarini Temple in the Ganjam District of the Eastern State of Odisha, the Vessel’s hull is built of wood-core and fibreglass sandwich. It has six sails including mainsail, genoa, stay, downwind and storm sail. She is capable of sailing in extreme conditions.

Tarini was built to a stock design by Van de Stadt called Tonga 56. The keel for Tarini was laid by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at the Aquarius Shipyard on 27 March 2016. The boat was delivered to the Navy before the scheduled date. She completed her sea trials on 30 January 2017. Several improvements were incorporated in this ship based on experience gained from operating INSV Mhadei. She is fitted with advanced features such as satellite communications, a Raymarine navigation suite and a Monitor wind vane equipped for emergency steering.

All-Woman Crew

Tarini is similar to her predecessor, the INSV Mhadei, which travelled more than 115,000 nautical miles during her eight years of service. Tarini has done over 35,000 nautical miles to date.

Promptly upon completion of the commissioning ceremony at INS Mandovi Boat Pool, the crew demonstrated the handling capabilities of the boat by sailing her out of the harbour. An all-woman crew led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi undertook an expedition to circumnavigate the globe, sailing off on 10 September 2017 and completing the voyage on 21 May 2018.

Navika Sagar Parikrama is the name of the expedition for circumnavigation of the globe on INSV Tarini by the Indian Navy’s Women Naval Officers. The six-member all-woman team, led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Goshi with Lt Commander Vartika Goshi, Lt Commander Pratibha Jamwal, Lt Commander Swati P, Lieutenant Aishwarya Boddapati, Lieutenant S Vijaya Devi and Lieutenant Payal Gupta, circumnavigated and managed the whole operation in this first-ever global journey.

The voyage (254 days) covered 21,600 miles and called on five ports namely, Freemantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), Cape Town (South Africa) and Mauritius before returning home to Goa. All six members of the crew were trained for about one year under Captain Dilip Donde, who was also the first Indian to successfully carry out solo circumnavigation of the globe between 2009 and 2010.

Navika Sagar Parikrama II (Sea Circumambulation’) or Navika Sagar Parikrama 2 is an upcoming circumnavigation of the globe by female officers of the Indian Navy. Unlike the previous instalment that had a six-women crew, this time only two women attempted to circumnavigate the globe. They are Indian Navy women officers Lt Cdr Roopa Alagirisamy and Lt Cdr Dilna Kunnummal, who will undertake the journey once again on INSV Tarini.