Sail ships steal the show

The parade of sail ships comprised 49 ER, 29 ER, 420, 470, Laser, and Hobie 16 Class of sailing boats manned by the Navy personnel.

February 07, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 02:24 pm IST - VISAKHAPATNAM:

Indian Navy sail ship INS Mhadei leads the Passage of Sails during the IFR in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.—Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

Indian Navy sail ship INS Mhadei leads the Passage of Sails during the IFR in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.—Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

On a bright, sunny day in the Bay of Bengal, in the presence of imposing warships, Indian and foreign, at the International Fleet Review off Visakhapatnam on Saturday, the sail ships have made their presence felt with a splash of colour.

As was rightly commented, 50 of them seemed to be having their own fleet review.

The parade of sail ships comprised 49 ER, 29 ER, 420, 470, Laser, and Hobie 16 Class of sailing boats manned by the Navy personnel who won numerous national and international yacht competitions.

Sail training helps one enhance the ability to deal with the forces of nature.

The lead sail ship was Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Mhadei. The 56-ft sloop earned a name for itself in the maritime history of the world when, in 2010, Commander Dilip Donde became the first Indian national to complete single-handed circumnavigation of the globe under sail in an Indian-built boat.

In 2013, Lt Cdr Abhilash Tomy became the first to take up solo, non-stop circumnavigation on wind power.

Overcoming the buffeting forces of nature, Mhadei and her skipper broke record books.

An all-women crew led by Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi is now preparing to take up circumnavigation of the globe.

Commander Donde and Lt Cdr Joshi were on board Mhadei at the IFR. Great strides have been made in promoting yachting and sailing, says Admiral Robin K. Dhowan, who is also the president of the Yachting Association of India.

Sail training ship INS Tarangini has visited 17 ports in 13 countries of Europe.

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