Female naval officers set sail on journey around the globe

Two female officers from the Indian Navy have embarked ona mission to circumnavigate the world, setting sail from a port in Goa yesterday.

- NAMITA SINGH

During the eight-month journey, Lt Cdr Roopa A and Lt Cdr Dilna K will cover approximately 21,600 nautical miles (about 40,000km) on board their Indian Naval Sailing Vessel, which was flagged off at 11am with a small ceremony. If successful, they will become the first Indians to circumnavigate the world in a double-handed sailing vessel.

Chosen from a pool of 17 candidates, both officers have dedicated the past three years to rigorous preparation. "There are a lot of fleeting thoughts and mixed emotions," Lt Cdr Roopa told The Indian Express. "We wouldn't say there is no fear. We are excited and aware of the challenges that lie ahead. We have been waiting for this moment for three years. The sea is calling."

Lt Cdr Roopa and Lt Cdr Dilna both come from military families and have accumulated thousands of nautical miles between them under the mentorship of retired Commander Abhilash Tomy, a renowned circumnavigator who finished second in the Golden Globe Race in 2022.