“It was an absolute risk of life. We didn’t know whether we would be able to come back to the land or not. The oceans don’t give you a chance to falter. You have to keep your eyes and ears open all the time,” said Lt. Commander P. Swathi. She was onboard INSV Tarini along with five other women in a historic journey across oceans circumnavigating the globe in a 254-day expedition.
As Tarini sailed closer to the Indian coast on May 21, Swathi imagined the day of returning home in her mind so many times. But, a few metres from the Goa Port, there was a feeling of vacuum. She knew she was going to miss the sea. After battling storms and cyclones in the oceans, Swathi said: “The entire journey was more about overcoming mental battles than physical ones.” The feat achieved by Swathi, who hails from Visakhapatnam, and the five other women is historic in many ways. Even before they embarked on the mission last year, they had many mental battles to win. The journey of INSV Tarini was also about busting a bunch of gender stereotypes. “The sea is gender neutral. It doesn’t give preferential treatment to you. All the notions about women are generated by human beings. It is unfortunate that we as a nation are far behind when it comes to gender equality than the Western countries. They have the freedom to achieve their dreams,” added Swathi and hoped more and more women were inducted as sailors. In preparation to their arduous mission on sea, the team of six were trained onboard INSV Mhadei, the first Indian boat to circumnavigate the world under the mentorship of Captain Dilip Donde – the first Indian to circumnavigate the world solo.
Narrating the terrifying experience when the boat was sailing in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean and caught in a storm that came at the speed of a super-cyclone, Swathi said that was the time when she prayed within. On stormy weathers like those, the crew had Maggi moments when they ran out of food and ate nothing, but instant noodles for their meal. If the sea was menacing, it was generous too. “The oceans offer you a different perspective towards life. I have learnt to value the small things in life we take from granted – fresh vegetables, plentiful water and also understood the importance of patience in life. We also saw the rich marine life, auroras and bioluminescence — these are experiences that you get only at the sea,” said the 27-year-old who started sailing at the age of 13. After her return from the record-setting expedition, Swathi now is eagerly waiting to get back to Visakhapatnam, the city that made her what she is. “I am coming back on transfer to Visakhapatnam in August,” added Swathi.