All-Women Indian Crew Returns Home After Maiden Voyage to Mauritius

The Indian Navy's first all-women crew returned to Goa on Thursday after a successful ocean voyage on a sailboat to Mauritius, planned as a forerunner to their global circumnavigation attempt in 2017.

The Mauritius voyage began in Goa on May 24 and reached Port Louis in Mauritius on June 14, where the team made a ten-day stop.

#INSVMhadei @SpokespersonMoD Historic 1st being scripted by 6 young naval women officers. Goa-Mauritius-Goa ~ 60days pic.twitter.com/1IW7Q6As2B

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) 14 июля 2016 г.

​"The six-member team returned on the Navy's only ocean going sailboat 'Mhadei' after their successful voyage to Mauritius. The team, India's first all-women crew, on their maiden ocean voyage covered a distance of over five thousand nautical miles (9260 km) through treacherous monsoon seas and heavy winds," a release made by India's Ministry of Defense stated.

The voyage, which lasted for over 40 days, was aimed at bringing the team to test by exposing them to rough seas, which are expected on the round-the-world trip during the monsoon period.

"The all-women crew has proved themselves capable and competent at sea," the release stated.

#INSVMhadei @SpokespersonMoD 5k Nm of treacherous monsoon seas & heavy winds. Solid grilling b4 bigger challenge pic.twitter.com/9YmgEdEmLU

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) 14 июля 2016 г.

​The crew was tutored and trained by Commander Dilip Donde, who on May 2010 became the first Indian national to complete a solo circumnavigation. He covered 21,600 nautical miles (40,000 km) under the sail of the INSV Mhadei.

Mhadei crew, skippered by Cdr Dilip Donde, Cdr MVV Satish, Cdr TGS Bedi and Lieutenant Commander Shweta Kapur. pic.twitter.com/kEhzTqqrEb

— Saurabh Joshi (@SaurabhJoshi) 5 января 2014 г.

​"The skipper Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi and her five member team were received by Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, the flag officer commanding-in-chief of the Western naval command. The all-women crew of 'Mhadei' are presently training to undertake a circumnavigation of the globe, a feat more demanding than climbing an Everest, in August 2017," the release added.

@SpokespersonMoD #INSVMhadei Some more pics of VAdm Girish Luthra Commander-in-Chief WNC with the crew pic.twitter.com/u8vLaMrpCF

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) 14 июля 2016 г.

​Aiming to make it "around the world in 180 days," the adventurous ladies will sail on a new vessel which is currently being constructed in Goa.

#INSVMhadei @SpokespersonMoD Well Done.So proud of you-VAdm KB Singh VCNS.More power 2 you for future endeavours pic.twitter.com/PxaNOgp8eG

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) 14 июля 2016 г.

​The sailboat was constructed at the boat yard on Divar Island and was handed over to the Indian Navy in February 2009. In a tribute to the place where the boat was constructed, the Indian Navy named the sloop after the Mandovi or Mhadei River, "the lifeline of Goa."