Indian Navy Sets Sail for Kochi to Goa Ocean Racing Challenge

In a bid to champion ocean sailing in India, the Indian Navy is gearing up for an exhilarating inter-Command Ocean Sailing Race from Kochi to Goa. The race, scheduled from November 22 to 26, 2023, is orchestrated by the Indian Navy under the banner of the Indian Naval Sailing Association (INSA), headquartered in Naval Headquarters (NHQ), New Delhi.

The event, organized by Headquarters, Southern Naval Command (HQSNC), and coordinated by the Indian Navy’s Offshore Sailing Club based at ASW School, Kochi, along with the Ocean Sailing Node at INS Mandovi, Goa, promises a challenging and thrilling experience.

Four 40-footer Indian Naval Sailing Vessels (INSVs) – Bulbul, Neelkanth, Kadalpura, and Hariyal – are set to participate in the race, covering an approximate distance of 360 nautical miles from the start point at Naval Base, Kochi, to Goa over five days.

Crew members for this daring sailing expedition are carefully chosen from volunteers with significant sea sailing experience. Ocean sailing, recognized as an arduous adventure sport, is strategically employed by the Indian Navy to instill a spirit of adventure, enhance risk-management skills, and refine essential seamanship and machinery management abilities among the crew.

A total of 32 personnel, including eight women officers/Agniveers, will participate in the race aboard the four INSVs. Each vessel will be crewed by eight individuals from the three Commands of the Navy, along with a combined team from Andaman and Nicobar Command & NHQ. The participants range in rank from a Commodore as the senior-most to an Agniveer as the junior-most.

The Indian Navy underscores the belief that sailing on these small vessels serves as the optimal method to instill the “indefinable sea-sense” and foster respect for the elements of nature, integral to safe and successful seafaring. Additionally, these sailing endeavors aim to impart core values such as courage, camaraderie, endurance, and esprit-de-corps among the budding naval personnel. The Ocean Sailing Race stands as a testament to the Indian Navy’s commitment to fostering a culture of adventure and skill development within its ranks.