Kochi (Kerala) [India], Jan 19 (NT): The Indian Navy's first all-women crew of Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, which was kicked off from Goa in September, has rounded the Cape Horn all the way through the Drake Passage, early Friday morning.

The closest land of Antarctica lies 600 miles South across the roughest stretch of the world is known as the Drake Passage, which the Indian crew crossed today said Indian Navy Spokesperson.

Marking this success for India, the all-women crew of Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini hoisted the Indian flag when they crossed Cape Horn.

PM Modi hailed the whole crew on his twitter handle as saying,” Wonderful news! Delighted that INSV Tarini has rounded Cape Horn in the last few hours. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments”, He tweeted.

The women crew took training in the Ocean Sailing Node at Goa.

INSV Tarini is a 56-foot sailing vessel was commenced into the Indian Navy earlier this year and displays the 'Make in India' project on the International forum.

The voyage, named 'Navika Sagar Parikrama',  agrees with the national policy to empower women to achieve their full perspective which aims to showcase 'Nari Shakti' on the world platform and help revolutionaries the societal mindset towards women in India by raising the visibility of their involvement in the challenging situations.

On a related note, the vessel will return to Goa in April 2018.

The voyage is being traveled in five legs, with stop-overs at four ports: Fremantle in Australia, Lyttelton in New Zealand, Port Stanley in Falklands and Cape Town in South Africa.

(NT)