A group of college students of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) set out on a 10-day ocean sailing expedition from here on Saturday.
The expedition is considered one of the most adventurous events organised by the NCC.
The NCC Group Headquarters, Puducherry, has been arranging the expedition along the East Coast Road as part of the NCC’s adventure activities from Puducherry to Thopputhurai and back. Expedition ‘Sagar Bhraman,’ as the expedition is code-named, forms part of the all-India competition among the Naval NCC units for the coveted Most Enterprising Naval Unit (MENU) Trophy which would be given away by the Prime Minister at the Republic Day parade.
The sailing team comprises 30 Naval NCC Senior Division Cadets drawn from St. Joseph’s College, Cuddalore, Annamalai University and TBML College, Porayar.
The expedition was flagged off by Colonel Anil Nautiyal, Group Commander, NCC Group, Puducherry, at the Thengaithittu fishing harbour.
Three Naval officers, one Associated NCC Officer, 10 Support Staff from 5 (TN) Naval Unit NCC, Cuddalore, accompanied the teams.
Colonel Nautiyal told The Hindu: “This is to promote the adventurous sprit among cadets. Whatever the training they were imparted here, they are going to implement in their expedition. On the sea, life is daring and challenging. This expedition will help in personality development, besides giving them mental strength and leadership qualities.”
On each leg, five cadets and one instructor each sail in two in 27-foot-long non-motorised boats called ‘Whaler’ using wind force. A training camp was held between September 15 and 19 at the Puducherry harbour for selection and preparation of cadets.