An all-women sailing expedition comprising officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force was flagged off from Mumbai on Sunday for Seychelles, marking the first international leg of a much-anticipated global circumnavigation planned for August 2025.
The team of 11 officers, drawn from across the three services, has been trained over two years, after an initial selection of 42 volunteers. They are now setting sail aboard the Indian services' sailing vessel Triveni, for what has been termed a test of endurance, skill and international navigation preparedness.
Colonel Venu Raman, speaking to mediapersons, said, “The proposal was mooted in 2022, and initially had 42 volunteers who were trained for over two years and pruned down to 11 officers who underwent training in all classes of boats across the western coast from Porbandar, Kochi, to Goa, amongst others.”
Colonel Raman explained that this Seychelles leg would serve as crucial preparation. “Seychelles expedition will be the first international exposure which will prepare them for long-distance training without stop as they are going to sail continuously for 20-25 days,” he said. “It will teach them formalities of foreign ports.”
He also revealed long-term plans for the crew. “In mid-August 2025 we are planning them to go around the world. So it will be conducted in various legs — from Bombay to Australia, from Australia to New Zealand, from New Zealand they will sail to Falkland then to Capetown and from Capetown they will come back to Mumbai. So this is the plan. This is the prelude to the major event of circumnavigation,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of the endeavour, Colonel Raman remarked, “Circumnavigation is very challenging and since men have done it, why not women? This is an opportunity for us to train them, for them to prove their mettle.” He added that the overarching theme of the expedition was “Nari Shakti” and “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”.
Captain Dhauli, skipper of the expedition, said, “Today we are sailing from Mumbai to Seychelles. Today we are flagging off for our first international expedition which is from Mumbai to Seychelles. We are going to navigate in deep waters, away from land for days, even for weeks and are going to test our endurance, our navigation skills. The mission of this expedition is circumnavigation, which is our final mission.”
She elaborated on the four key conditions of circumnavigation. “It includes crossing of all capes, crossing the equator two times, cross all longitude in the same direction and minimum distance of 21,600 nautical miles to be covered,” she said. “The aim of this expedition is to show the strength in women empowerment.”
Her husband, who is also a captain, expressed pride and support. “This is the first international expedition of their boat, Triveni,” he told reporters. “We came here to support her, and we wish her and the entire team all the best for the great laurels that will come ahead.”
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