Summary:
Kochi, Oct 24 (PTI) To commemorate the 75th year of the country"s independenc, an ocean-sailing race from Kochi to Goa was flagged off on Sunday by Chief of Southern Naval Command Vice-Admiral A K Chawla.
Six Indian Naval Sailing Vessels (INSVs) -- Mhadei, Tarini, Bulbul, Neelkanth, Kadalpura and Hariyal -- are participating in the regatta which is for a tentative duration of five days and would cover an approximate distance of 360 nautical miles between the starting point at the Naval Base in Kochi and the finishing point in Goa.
Chawla, who spoke to reporters after flagging off the race, said, "Sailing is an all-round skill requiring a lot of mental strength, physical stamina and team spirit." "Ocean-sailing is a very tough and demanding sport because you are in the high seas and you are subject to the vagaries of weather.
You have to be able to handle the boat in all sorts of weather, be it rough seas or sometimes still-calm seas when it"s very hot and the boat is not moving.
You will have to navigate the boat in the open seas.
There is also some machinery onboard the ship which may have to be repaired at times," he said.