A gender-neutral crew of three male and three female officers has been chosen for the expedition

Indian Naval Sailing Vessel INSV Tarini has set off from Goa on a sailing voyage to Port Louis, Mauritius. Six crew members, including three female officers, are participating in the expedition aboard the INSV Tarini, which was flagged off early on Saturday.

Over the course of 20 to 21 days and a distance of about 2500 nm (around 4500 km) on one trip, the crew will likely experience monsoon-related harsh weather and choppy seas.

"In addition to sailing in these conditions the crew will also be undertaking boat upkeep, machinery routines and preparing their meals. The passage would be nonstop once they leave the Indian shores," the Ministry of Defence said.

INSV Tarini is one of the six ocean-going Indian Naval Sailing Vessels (INSVs) of the Indian Navy's fleet that frequently go on expeditionary missions with a small naval crew. Other INSVs are the Mhadei Bulbul, Hariyal, Kadalpura, and Neelkanth. Volunteers with sufficient sea sailing expertise are chosen to serve as the crew for the sea sorties.

Considering that ocean sailing is a really demanding adventure activity, these Ocean Sailing adventures support the development of risk-taking skills, a sense of adventure, and fundamental seamanship competencies including navigation, communication, technical engine and aboard machinery operation, use of Inmarsat equipment, logistics planning, etc.

The Indian Navy's ability to project a beneficent presence throughout the world is strengthened by participating in sailing expeditions like the Sagar Parikrama, Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro races, IONS, and Bay of Bengal sailing expeditions.

The INSV Tarini is particularly well known for its 2017 Navika Sagar Parikrama, which had an all-female officer crew.

For the current trip, a gender-neutral crew of three men and three women has been chosen. One of the most seasoned yachtsmen in the Indian Navy, Capt. VD Meherishi, is in charge of the ship. The crew members include Lt Cdr Payal Gupta, Lt Cdr Kaushal Pednekar, Lt Cdr Dilna K, and Lt Cdr Roopa A. Cdr. Vikas Sheoran is also on board.