Sailing expedition's brief halt at Chennai port

Travelling over thousand nautical miles, the Indian Army, which recently undertook wind sailing expedition from Haldia on the East coast upto Porbandar on the West, arrived at Chennai port recently.

The expedition 'Round the Indian Peninsula', organised by EME Sailing Association, Secunderabad, was flagged-off from Haldia on October 21, by Lieutenant General Paramjit Singh, Commandant, Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering.

Around 50 sailors from all arms and services of the Army are participating in the expedition which has been undertaken for the first time in an Ocean going Bavaria Class 44 feet Sail Yacht, a release said.

The team reached Chennai on October 27.

On further sailing from Chennai, Team leader Major Alok Kumar Yadav said, Karaikal route will be "special and challenging" as the team would be the first to attempt to cross Pamban Bridge on a sail boat.

"This feat has never been attempted," he said.

Flagging off the voyage in Chennai, Major General and Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers Deputy Commandant TSA Narayanan said, "such expeditions go a long way in generating interest in adventure activists among our men."