9 Indian Women Complete World’s First Tri-Services Circumnavigation

Nine women officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force made history as they sailed into Mumbai after completing the world’s first all-women tri-services global circumnavigation.

The remarkable feat was achieved by Sqn Ldr Shradha P. Raju, Wg Cdr Vibha Singh, Sqn Ldr Vaishali Bhandari and Sqn Ldr Aruvi Jayadev from the Air Force, Lt Cdr Priyanka Gusain from the Navy and Maj Karamjeet Kaur, Maj Omita Dalvi, Maj Prajakta Nikam and Lt Col Anuja Varudkar from the Army.

The 314-day Samudra Pradakshina expedition covered 25,500 nautical miles across 4 oceans and rounded the 3 Great Capes.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who had flagged off the expedition, addressed the crew via video link during the flag-in ceremony, where they were received by Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar.

The team for this voyage was selected from dozens of volunteers and involved 2 years of preparation, after which they also went on a 4000 nm qualifying trip to the Seychelles.

The voyage was completed aboard the IASV Triveni, a 50-foot yacht built in Puducherry.

To meet international circumnavigation criteria, the yacht crossed the Equator twice, traversed every meridian of longitude, and rounded Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and the Cape of Good Hope.

The journey included 4 international port calls, including stops in Fremantle, Australia, and Cape Town, South Africa.

The team faced its toughest conditions in the Southern Ocean, battling 8 to 12 m swells and sub-zero wind chills through the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties.

In December, they crossed the International Date Line in the Southern Ocean, marking the longitudinal halfway point.

After navigating the dangerous Drake Passage, the crew rounded Cape Horn in February. After this, the team crossed the Equator northbound into the Indian Ocean and then sailed back to Mumbai.

In 2009 and 2010, Commander Dilip Donde completed India’s first solo circumnavigation aboard INSV Mhadei.

In 2013, Commander Abhilash Tomy achieved the first solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation by an Indian.

In 2018, the Navy’s Navika Sagar Parikrama saw 6 women officers complete an all-women circumnavigation aboard INSV Tarini.

Recently, Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A. completed a two-handed global circumnavigation on INSV Tarini, and earned the Shaurya Chakra.