Indian Women Navy Officers Prepare to Circumnavigate the Globe in 2024 with Mentor Cdr Abhilash Tomy

By: WE Staff | Friday, 1 September 2023

Two Indian Navy officers, Lt Cdr Dilna K, and Lt Cdr Roopa A, are set to embark on a circumnavigation sailing expedition in 2024 aboard the vessel Tarini. Their courage and confidence have been bolstered by their previous success in the trans-ocean inter-continental "Goa to Rio & Back" expedition.

To prepare for this challenging mission, the Indian Navy's Ocean Sailing Node has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Cdr Abhilash Tomy (Retd), an ace circumnavigator and Golden Globe Race hero, who will serve as their mentor and coach. The aim is to replicate the feat achieved by six women officers years ago, and the ultimate goal is to undertake a solo woman mission to circumnavigate the globe.

Under the tutelage of Cdr Tomy, Lt Cdr Dilna and Lt Cdr Roopa will undergo rigorous training over the coming months. This training will include numerous short and long sailing voyages in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. Cdr Tomy will also mentor participants of other sailing expeditions and share his experiences through motivational talks with trainees at various naval training establishments.

The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement was a significant moment and was witnessed by VAdm Krishna Swaminathan, Controller of Personnel Services and Vice President of the Indian Naval Sailing Association (INSA), and RAdm Rajesh Dhankhar, Commandant Naval War College. VAdm Swaminathan praised the two women officers for their impressive ocean sailing achievements and thanked Cdr Abhilash Tomy for his unwavering support of the Navy's ocean sailing endeavors.

'Sagar Parikrama IV,' as envisioned by the Navy, will be an unprecedented venture and a major step forward in India's ocean sailing journey. Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A previously showcased the power of Nari Shakti (women's empowerment) by completing the challenging voyage from Goa to Rio de Janeiro, via Cape Town and back, sailing for an impressive 188 days on the INSV Tarini.

Ocean sailing gained popularity in the Indian Navy after Captain Dilip Donde became the first Indian to accomplish this feat in 2009-2010, with Cdr Abhilash Tomy subsequently elevating it to a prestigious sporting event.