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INS Tarangini, the Indian Navy's Sail Training Barque, which is custom-built for sail-training of officer-cadets, is presently engaged on a circumnavigation voyage, propagating the theme of building "Bridges of Friendship" across the oceans. Built at the Goa Shipyard Limited, Vasco da Gama, Tarangini is the first sailing ship to be commissioned into the Indian Navy, and proudly carries the prefix "Indian Naval Ship". The fifteen-month voyage, which commenced at Kochi on the 23rd of January 2003 will terminate at Kochi. The voyage has already taken Tarangini to her northern-most point, in the St Lawrence Seaway, which runs from Canada into the Great Lakes of North America; and she will soon reach the southernmost point in her voyage, in Australia and by then she would have traversed a total distance of 27,500 nm. By the time this voyage comes to an end, this gallant ship would have called at 36 ports, spread over 18 countries, and, in the process, would have covered an incredible 33,000 nautical miles.
The rationale for the circumnavigation rests upon the central belief that the human spirit finds its finest expression in an environment of challenge and adventure, and that such an environment is to be readily found in the undertaking of a protracted voyage under a spread of canvas, where human skill and endeavour are pitted against the vagaries and raw energy of the elements.
The theme of the voyage is "Building Bridges of Friendship Across the Seas". Indeed, for the Navy, the seas themselves are the bridges and it is by embarking upon them that we connect with other peoples and lands, both near and far. Indeed, the medium of the seas transforms every nation with a coastline into a neighbour of ours and land borders lose much of their relevance. In keeping with the fundamental concept of establishing 'Bridges of Friendship', foreign officer-trainees from as many as thirteen friendly countries have either already had or will soon have an opportunity to be a part of this epic voyage. These include representatives from Australia, Egypt, France, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, the UK, and the USA.
The passage thus far has been a grand success. The ship and her crew of officers, officer-trainees, and sailors, have manfully braved the severity and vagaries of weather, weathered storms, established gender equality even in the difficult conditions prevalent in the confines of a sailing ship at sea, cemented existing bonds of friendship with our closer maritime neighbours and forged new bonds with our more distant ones. By the very fact that they have travelled so far to the Great Lakes and done so well, they have earned new levels of respect for the professionalism of the Indian Navy and the Indian State.
Having been bid a colourful and moving farewell by the citizens of Kochi, Tarangini traversing the Arabian Sea, calling at Djibouti, and thence through the fabled Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, to enter the Red Sea. In these biblical waters, whilst en route the ancient port of Alexandria, she bravely battled high winds and rough seas, providing all on board an early baptism into the harshness of life at sea. It is this ability to ride the rough with the smooth that toughens-up men and women to the point where they can be called upon to do their duty to their country even in the face of severe physical and mental stress. This toughening-up process is one of the earliest lessons that the sea embarks upon - and the men and women of Tarangini, as also the vessel itself, were subjected to this process in no uncertain manner.
From Alexandria the ship transited the Suez Canal, calling at Port Suez, which forms the canal's southern gateway, and thus entered the azure blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Here she brushed the southern limit of the Sea of Crete, and called at the Greek port of Iraklion on the legendary island of Crete. Upon sailing out, bound for the Tyrrhenian Sea to call at the Italian port of Palermo on the Isle of Sicily, the ship was once again subjected to a severe storm that lasted for over three full days. Her sails were reduced to ribbons, but the skill of her builders and the indomitable spirit of her crew saw the ship outlast the storm's fury and she entered Palermo, bloody but unbowed, much to the unabashed admiration of her Italian hosts. From Palermo, she passed through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar with Spain on her starboard (Right-side) and Morocco on her port (Left-side), to call at the sunny Spanish port of Cadiz. This marked Tarangini's first-ever foray into the majestic Atlantic Ocean, and, having departed Cadiz, she headed south to the port of Las Palmas located in Spain's Canary Islands, which lie just a few miles off the coast of Morocco, and, which marked the culmination of the first of her six Passage Legs.
An 'Atlantic Crossing' under spread of sail is not for the faint hearted, but Tarangini had never had no truck with faint-heartedness, and so she boldly set-forth on what would be the longest single stretch of sailing she had ever undertaken, covering a distance of some four thousand nautical miles, bound for the the US commercial capital, New York - with a port call en route at Port Hamilton, in the British outpost of Bermuda. Her arrival in New York caused quite a flutter and when she participated in the International Fleet Week organised by the Metropolitan Museum, New York, she was truly the cynosure of all eyes.
Having made a strong and positive impact even amongst the blasé the denizens of the 'Big Apple', Tarangini wound her way up the east coast of USA and thence into Canadian waters as she reached the northernmost point of her circumnavigation off Newfoundland and entered the St Lawrence Seaway, bound for the Canadian Port of Hamilton. At Hamilton, the ship undertook the first of her two planned maintenance periods and, having brought herself to a condition of full fitness, Tarangini and her stout-hearted crew girded their loins for the forthcoming Tall Ship Races.
By the very fact that Tarangini has travelled so far and so well, the crew have earned new levels of respect for the professionalism of the Indian Navy and the Indian State. It is the competitive spirit, discipline, skill and acumen of these men and women who represent the future of our nation, which has enabled them to comprehensively defeat the world's best Tall Ships in the recently concluded Tall Ship Challenge Series-2003 Races in the Great Lakes of USA and Canada, even while winning the hearts and minds of not just the lay public, but even of their keenest competitors. Quite apart from her fellow competitors, Tarangini's inherent warship attributes of discipline, courtesy, cleanliness, and upright conduct, made her the overwhelming favourite of the crowds that thronged the quays and jetties whenever the Tall Ships were berthed alongside.
Tarangini's exploits in the Great Lakes has been a watershed in Tarangini's voyage of circumnavigation, for it was here that the ship participated in the four races of the Tall Ship Challenge Series, competing against some of the world's best and most famous Tall Ships (the term "Tall Ships" is a generic one, derived from the tall masts - and 'yards' - upon which the sails are carried, to describe a wide variety of sailing ships such as barques, schooners, ketches, yawls, brigantines, etcetera). The Tall Ship Challenge Series comprised a series of four races from Cleveland (Ohio) to Toledo (Ohio), Toledo to Chicago (Illinois), Chicago to Muskegon (Michigan) and from Bay City (Michigan) to Sarnia (Ontario) - all US/Canadian ports in the Great Lakes.
Tarangini - true to her name (derived from the Hindi word "Tarang" meaning "'waves") - made waves by her consistent and superlative performance during the entire proceedings. Manoeuvring a ship of 177 feet in length with a sail area of 10,000 square feet in almost nil wind conditions - and then to quite suddenly have to do the same in winds that unexpectedly gust, veer and shift capriciously in waters with which one is quite unfamiliar, required enormous skill, grit, discipline, and determination. Participating in her maiden 'Tall Ship Challenge Races', Tarangini sailed her heart out, and, quite to the amazement of the more experienced crews aboard other competing ships and the delight of Indian citizens as also the large Indian diaspora, overcame stiff challenges from the almost 25 other vessels representing the USA, Canada, Netherlands and Russia, to emerge as the Overall Champion in the 'Youth Sailing Division' (having registered a Third Place in the first race, followed by comprehensively First Place victories the next two races and culminating with a Third Place in the last race). The all-encompassing impact of Tarangini's presence and participation may be gauged from the fact that she was also the hands-down winner of the ASTA Trophy for Promoting International Friendship and Understanding - nomination by vote in which each participating ship votes for the ship (other than herself) that has contributed most to international friendship and understanding.
Yet another feature of Tarangini's domination in the Tall Ship Events was the award of the prestigious "2003 Vicky Scott Memorial Trophy" to Commander Shaukat Ali, the Captain of Tarangini during her sojourn in the Great Lakes. The Vicky Scott Trophy, since its inception in 1966, has been awarded for participation in one of the European Events and the award during the American Sail Training Association Annual Conference at Rhode Island, USA, marked a deviation from tradition. Tarangini's achievements has thus caused a palpable swelling of Indian hearts - not just in India, but all over the world, including, amongst the scattered but substantial Indian Diaspora.
Tarangini, on departing the Great Lakes once again entered the St Lawrence Seaway, north-bound for the Canadian port-city of Montreal. Upon exiting the St Lawrence River, she headed south, calling at ports along the eastern coast of USA before entering the waters of the Caribbean. Thereon, she transited from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, through the Panama Canal with a port call at the Panamanian port of Balboa. This Panama Canal transit was, indeed, opportune, as Panama is celebrating the One Hundred and Fiftieth Year of its independence in 2003 and Tarangini represents a physical manifestation of India's felicitations to Panama upon this historic occasion.
Tarangini is now homeward bound and is presently sailing the vast reaches of the Pacific Ocean. Visit to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal, in the Ecuadorian Galapagos Island, the first port in the Pacific, was a befitting tryst with the miracles of creator. San Cristobal, the oldest island in the archipelago and is about five million years young. The nutrient-rich waters surrounding San Cristobal, the submarine biodiversity that develops along the coasts is diverse- Sharks, Leopard Rays, Sea Lions and Lobsters are frequently seen within an area of a few meters from the beaches around the islands. Colonies of sea lions are commonly found feeding in the rich waters next to birds such as Whimbrels, Frigate birds, Pelicans and White cheeked Pintails. The highlands with the only fresh water lagoon ,El Junco, which happens to be the source of food and refuge for the numerous species of birds like Finches, White-cheeked Pintails, Vermillion Flycatchers and Black necked Stilts who live in the symbiosis with the habitat the lagoon offers. Visits to the other important islands of Puerto Isidro Ayora on Isla Santa Cruz and Puerto Villamil on Isla Isabel were an experience out of the world. The unique diversity of flora and fauna in coexistence with man kind will continue to linger in the minds of the fortunate crew of the gallant Tarangini for times to come.
Tarangini commenced her onward journey from Puerto Villamil in the picturesque Galapagos Islands at 1830h (IST) on the 28th day of November 2003. The passage from Puerto Villamil, Galapagos to the exotic French-Polynesian islands of Nuku Hiva in French Polynesia was the longest passage of the voyage. The total distance of 3015 nm was covered in a period of 22 days 22 hrs and 20 min. 83% of the passage i.e. 2530 nm was under sails and involved 476 hours. The remaining 485 nm was under power and was covered in 71 hrs.
The next port of call was Papeete, Tahiti, again in French Polynesia. The ship arrival on the 30th December 2003 was marked by a warm and traditional welcome by a group of Tahitian dancers. Flower necklaces were offered to the crewmembers in true Tahitian manner. The passage from Nuku Hiva to Papeete was uneventful and involved a total distance of 761 nm which was covered in a 120h. The stay at Tahiti was a welcome reprieve from the rigour of sea and the New Year celebration was a unique affair. The ship sailed from Papeete on the 4th day of January so as to arrive Apia (Samoa) on the 13th January 2004.
Having departed from Apia on the 15th January 2004 Tarangini headed for Suva, in Fiji, en-route to Australia. History was made as she was the only Indian tall ship ever to visit Fiji. She took part in various functions with the local populace including the many People of Indian Origin (PIO). It also included sailing out for two short sorties with the Indian diaspora, a truly memorable, unforgettable event for those who sailed on her. She also had the distinction of being the first in the world, to hoist the Indian Flag on Republic Day, 26 Jan 2004 .
The ship then called at Cairns in north-eastern Australia for a well deserved rest and recuperation, not only for her gallant crew but also for the equipment, machinery and associated systems. She stayed there from 11-23 Feb 04, wherein a repair yard was contracted to undertake repair and maintenance routines of various machinery .The Commanding Officer from the US to Australia leg Cdr Pushpendra Kumar Garg, handed over Command of the ship to Cdr Mukul Asthana at Cairns. The crew and the cadets were also rotated at Cairns .The cadets were brought in by INS Tir. Later a similar change around is scheduled at Jakarta end Mar 04 , wherein the cadets would be brought in by INS Krishna, another cadet training ship.
After departing Cairns, the ship skirted the Great Barrier Reef, the Northern Territory and called at Darwin 05 - 08 Mar 04. At Darwin, she had a very interesting visit including interaction with local dignitaries from the civil and the military as also those from the Australian military. From here she began her homeward run, with port calls at Jakarta, Singapore and Colombo, en-route her final destination, Kochi, where she is scheduled to arrive on 25 Apr 2004.
Cairns to Colombo
Passage. The ship sailed from Cairns at 1100 h on 23 Feb 04. The ship navigated through 498 NM of the Great Barrier Reef inner route from 23 Mar to 26 Mar 04. This entire passage from Cairns to Great Barrier Reef was completed under power due to restricted waters, unfavourable winds and currents. Thereafter the ship transited through Gulf of Carpentaria, Arafura Sea, Dundas Strait, Gulf of Van Diemen and Clarence Strait. The ship entered Darwin Harbour on 05 Mar 04.
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Tarangini
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