INS Tarangini, the Sail Training Ship of Indian Navy, has commenced an eight month voyage to participate in the annual Tall Ship Races, off the coast of UK and other events at Europe, organised under the aegis of Sail Training International. During these eight months (04 May - 03 Dec 15), the ship will travel approximately 17,000 miles under sails.
INS Tarangini will arrive at Plymouth on 15 July 2015 and depart on 18 July 2015 for Kristiansand (Norway).During her stay at Plymouth, the ship's crew and cadets will visit Britannia Royal Naval College, play sporting fixtures, interact and share professional experiences with their Royal Navy colleagues. Two midshipmen of the Royal Navy will also embark the ship for its next leg from Plymouth to Kristiansand (Norway).
The ship has an illustrious history when it comes to long voyages and was the first Indian Naval Ship to circumnavigate the Globe in 2003-04. Since then, she has sailed to 'The Great Lakes' in Canada for races and has also participated in the European Tall Ship Races. Tarangini won The Royal Thames Yacht Club Challenge Trophy in 2005 at Europe and stood third in Youth Sailing Division in 2007 at USA.
"Tall ship" is a term often used generically to describe large, classic sailing vessels. The first tall ship event was organised in 1956, where the foundation of Sail Training International was mooted.
The crew of the ship will undertake this arduous voyage through the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the North Sea.
Apart from these races, the ship sails extensively across the Indian Ocean region for the purpose of providing sail training experience to the Officer Cadets of the Navy. This year's Tall Ship Races will be conducted primarily off the coast of United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. Tarangini will participate in the Tall Ship Race from Kristiansand (Norway) to Aalborg (Denmark). She will also participate in associated sail events such as Sail Rostock, Sail Bremerhaven in Germany and Sail Amsterdam in Netherland. About 300 sail ships of various sizes from all over the world are expected to participate in this year's events.
The ship's voyage to 17 ports in 14 countries will showcase India to the world and demonstrate the Indian Navy's global reach. The theme for the voyage, codenamed Lokayan -15, has thus been chosen as "Tacking for a Broader Reach".
