Army team embarks on challenging expedition

An Indian Army team has embarked on a challenging wind sailing expedition `Round the Indian Peninsula’ from Haldia on the East Coast to Porbandar on West. The expedition is being organised by EME Sailing Association, MCEME, Secunderabad, under the aegis of Army Adventure Wing. The expedition was flagged off by Lieutenant General Paramjit Singh, Commandant, MCEME on 21 Oct 18 from Haldia.

The team led by Major Alok Kumar Yadav will attempt to complete the rare feat in 45 days. EME Sailing Association has undertaken off shore expeditions earlier, but of a much smaller scale using Sea Bird class of boats. However, the current expedition being more challenging has been undertaken, for the first time, in an Ocean going Bavaria Class 44 feet Sail Yacht.

The team comprising 50 sailors has representation from all arms and services of the Indian Army. The team will be touching all major parts along the Indian coast line including Vishakhapatnam, Chennai, Trivandrum, Kochi, Mangalore, Goa, Mumbai and Porbandar. The expedition is aimed at fostering spirit of adventure among the young soldiers of Indian Army and spreading awareness about Ocean pollution by collecting samples of polluted water from seas.

The expedition was conceived about two years ago as a precursor to bigger expeditions like `Circum Navigation of Globe’ which can be undertaken only in bigger boats. The planning and preparation included coordination with Indian Navy and Coast Guards for Search and Rescue and navigation support. The team prepared for Blue Water training at HBTC, Marve, Mumbai and headed to Chennai to understand the nuances of handling the bigger boat which was being used for the first time.