Naval sailing vessel gears up for Inter-Command Ocean sailing race from Kochi to Goa

Mumbai: Four 40-foot Indian Naval Sailing Ships (INSVs) – Bulbul, Neelkanth, Kadalpura and Hariyal – will participate in the Inter-Command Ocean Sailing Race from Kochi to Goa, organized by the Indian Navy, scheduled from 22-26 November. ,
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The race will cover an estimated distance of 360 nautical miles between Naval Base, Kochi and the starting point of Goa in approximately five days.

The race is being organized under the aegis of the Indian Naval Yachting Association (INSA) based at Naval Headquarters (NHQ), New Delhi.

The race is being organized by Headquarters, Southern Naval Command (HQSNC) and coordinated by the Indian Navy’s Offshore Sailing Club based at ASW School, Kochi and Ocean Sailing Node based at INS Mandovi, Goa.

The crew for these sailing expeditions is selected from among volunteers with sufficient ocean sailing experience. Ocean sailing is an extremely difficult adventure sport.

A press statement said, “The Indian Navy uses sea sailing boats to hone their essential seamanship and machinery management skills as well as inculcate a sense of adventure and enhance the risk-management capabilities of the crew. “

32 personnel including eight women officers/firefighters on four INSVs will participate in this race.

Each INSV will include eight personnel from three naval commands and a joint team from Andaman and Nicobar Command and NHQ. The senior most participant is of the rank of Commodore, and the most junior participant is Agniveer.

“The Indian Navy believes that sailing on these small ships is the best way to inculcate among its personnel the “indefatigable maritime spirit” and respect for the elements of nature, which are inseparable from safe and successful sea travel. They also serve to impart the values of courage, camaraderie, stamina and esprit-de-corps among the budding naval personnel,” the release said.