Navy's All-Women Crew Starts 3rd Leg Of Sailing Tour From New Zealand

India’s first all-woman navy crew has entered the third leg of their circumnavigation tour. On Wednesday (Dec 13), the six crew members set sail from Lyttelton port in New Zealand.

#NavikaSagarParikrama #INSVTarini sets sail for the 3rd Leg of expedition from Lyttelton NZ this morning. Next destination Port Stanley. We wish #TeamTarini fair winds following seas & all the very best for this long & tough voyage across Pacific @DefenceMinIndia @nsitharaman pic.twitter.com/KVSmmNsMU0

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 12, 2017

The voyage around the globe are just two more stops away.

Navika Sagar Parikrama - INSV Tarini departs from Lyttelton https://t.co/RGy3VBpSwd @DefenceMinIndia @nsitharaman @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/gcH6rpTZuB

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 12, 2017

The six female officers are aboard the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel, INSV Tarini, on a circumnavigation effort, thus creating maritime history. So far, they have made two halts since the beginning their five-leg expedition.

#INSVTarini departs on next leg of her journey. Bon Voyage our Brave Girls!! Best of Luck and Fair Winds!! @indiannavy @indianweekender @MEAIndia @nsitharaman @IndianDiplomacy @inzbc @ItanzIndia pic.twitter.com/FxV6cEi9Bs

— India in New Zealand (@IndiainNZ) December 12, 2017

The women’s crew is led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi. The team will make their next stopover at Port Stanley, Falklands, and will finish the tour with the last stop at Cape Town, South Africa.

READ: Sisters are doin’ it for themselves: Meet India’s all-woman crews

Before the team set sail, the new Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flagged off the 55-ft INSV Tarini from the INS Mandovi naval training base in Goa in September.

The team comprises Tarini’s skipper, Lt. Commander Vartika Joshi, and crew, Lt. Commanders Pratibha Jamwal, P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta.

#NavikaSagarParikrama: @nsitharaman flags off #INSVTarini with 6 women officers on-board for circumnavigation of globe pic.twitter.com/5p60ywHUZ8

— ET Defence (@ETDefence) September 10, 2017

The Indian naval sailing vessel had reached Lyttelton early last month after their first stop at Fremantle, Australia. They are now moving towards Port Stanley, Falklands, the Indian Navy said in a statement.

Before leaving for the voyage, the crew had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

#NavikaSagarParikrama 2day is D-Day. 6 naval offrs set sail onboard #INSVTarini at 1300h as @DefenceMinIndia Smt @nsitharaman flags them off pic.twitter.com/hs37wF7P1k

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) September 10, 2017

“It is going to boost the spirits of everybody across the country. Not just women, but it can also be an inspiration for the male counterparts. Our aim is to rekindle the spirit of adventure,” Lieutenant Commander Joshi said

The crew was welcomed to Lyttelton by Deputy Mayor of Christchurch, Andrew Turner. MP from Christchurch Central, Duncan Webb, also visited the vessel to welcome the crew. The National Council of Women of New Zealand also warmly hosted the crew for an interaction.

#NavikaSagarParikrama #TeamTarini saw some hector dolphins today.
Hector's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) is the best-known of the four dolphins in genus Cephalorhynchus & is the only endemic cetacean 2 NewZealand. At ~1.4m in length, its 1 of the smallest & rarest dolphin. pic.twitter.com/nKmX9vwkkd

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 12, 2017

Also WATCH: These Women Will Fight Weather & High Seas To Circumnavigate Earth

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