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Mhadei visited the Ports of Chennai (12-19 Feb) and Kochi (27 Feb-02 Mar) on her return journey. She returned to her homeport Goa today which coincidentally happens to be International Women’s Day. Future training plans include an independent voyage to Mauritius in May 2016. The officers would shift to a new boat of the same class that has been ordered by the Navy from M/s Aquarius Shipyard, Goa slated for delivery in Feb 2017. Mhadei and her yet to named sister are both completely made in India.
During the maiden voyage by these gritty and adventurous women officers of the Navy, Mhadei and her crew encountered moderately rough weather and heavy seas in the Gulf of Mannar. The present Skipper, Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi, was part of the crew on board Mhadei for the return leg of the Cape to Rio race in 2013-14. Lt Swathi was also part of the crew for the return leg of the boat from Cape to Goa. This is the first all women crew of an ocean-going sailing boat of the Navy. All the crew members are volunteers and are driven by their passion for adventure and a love for sailing and the seas.