On January 4, 2025, at about 0930 hours local time (0200 hours IST), the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini sailed from the port of Lyttelton, New Zealand, for the third leg of its journey toward Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. The distance covered in this leg is approximately 5,600 nautical miles, which is something in the neighborhood of 10,400 km, making it the longest of the whole expedition and taking Tarini to its southernmost point, around 56 degrees South.
INSV Tarini on 22 December 2024 reached Lyttelton after having covered its second leg of the historic double-handed circumnavigation taken up by two Indian navy women officers, Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A, thus signifying India's growing maritime exploration capabilities. The welcoming party for the crew was made up of local Maori in the traditional cultural manner.
During this period, the crew undertook repairs and maintenance on the vessel as part of preparations for the next leg through the South Pacific waters and into the treacherous Drake Passage around Cape Horn before heading to Port Stanley. This segment promises to be tough in view of the extremely harsh weather of the Southern Ocean with winds expected to reach between 50-60 knots (90-110 km/h) This is part of the experience that bound these adventurers for their record.
On January 2, 2025, INSV Tarini was opened to the public for visits in Lyttelton Port. Community members of all walks, including those from the Indian community, could meet some of the crew and share experiences on ocean sailing. Also among the visitors was Mrs. Victoria Henstock, a Councillor for Christchurch City Council.
A big congregation of Indian Diaspora members marked the flag-off ceremony on 4th January 2025. Among the many eminent guests, there was Mr. Belfiore Bologna, Honorary Consul of Italy for New Zealand's South Island, and Mrs. Sue McFarlane, Head of the Christchurch Antarctic Office. During the ceremony, members of the Maori community performed traditional prayers for the crew.
Navika Sagar parikrama - II is an Indian navy expedition to complete a double-handed circumnavigation of earth through the three great capes. The expedition was flagged off from Goa on October 2, 2024, under the auspices of Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi Chief of the Naval Staff. After 38 days of navigating the Indian Ocean, it docked in Fremantle, Australia for repairs, between November 9 and 24, 2024. The second leg, which took 28 days from Fremantle to Lyttelton, brought the crew through varied weather conditions.
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