India's First All-Women Crew Starts Sail For Around-The-Globe Mission

A team of six naval officers have started a historic around-the-world mission called Navika Sagar Parikrama
It is the first circumnavigation of the globe by an all-female crew of the Indian navy.

• The voyage commenced in Goa on September 10, 2017
• Thejourney will feature stops in Australia, New Zealand, the Falkland islands and South Africa. 
• The team expected to return to Goa in March 2018.

Background

• The navy commissioned a yacht "Tarini" in February for the mission to kick off preparations for the voyage in 2014.
• Retired naval officer Captain Dilip Dhonde, who undertook India's first solo around-the-world expedition in 2009-10, trained the crew.
• The women have undertaken several preparatory missions. 
• They have sailed on INSV Mhadei to Mauritius and back and also to Cape Town.
• The boat in which the crew is sailing named Indian Navy Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini.
• Captained by lieutenant commander Vartika Joshi, other crew members are lieutenant commanders Pratibha Jamwal and P Swathi and lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta.