All-women Indian defence crew triumphs in historic Cape Town voyage
IASV Triveni crew members on the dock at the Royal Cape Yacht Club following months at sea on their all-women sailing expedition.
Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Media
AFTER months battling some of the world’s harshest oceans, an all-women crew from India’s armed forces has docked in Cape Town, as they prepare for the final leg of a historic circumnavigation voyage back to Mumbai.
Sailing aboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni, the six officers, drawn from the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force, have already covered more than 23 000 nautical miles since departing Mumbai on September 11, 2025.
Their journey, flagged off by India’s Defence Minister, has taken them across three continents with stopovers in Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina.
Now docked at the Royal Cape Yacht Club for maintenance, the crew is preparing to depart Cape Town on May 11 for the final two-month stretch home.
The Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni at sea during India’s all-women tri-services circumnavigation expedition.
Image: Supplied
The all-women crew of IASV Triveni celebrate their arrival in Cape Town after months at sea on a global circumnavigation mission.
Image: Supplied
For Lieutenant Commander Priyanka Gusain of the Indian Navy, the journey has been about far more than just distance.
"This journey has been very unique and full of learning experiences. It has represented the spirit of women, a crew charting their own course across tough oceans in the world," she said.
"People asked us why we are going for such an adventure with so much risk, but we realised that nature, the ocean, does not recognise gender, only your grit, determination, your emotional and psychological endurance."
Wing Commander Vibha Singh described the experience as deeply transformative.
"Sailing challenges you physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. You grow as a team member and know your own limits. With every inch away from the world you go, you are one inch closer to yourself."
At the helm is skipper Lieutenant Colonel Anuja Varudkar, who brings more than two decades of service to what she describes as a "one-of-a-kind" mission bringing together all three branches of India’s defence forces.
"From India to Cape Town, we had one mission in hand, to circumnavigate the globe," she said.
The crew has crossed the Equator twice and sailed past the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Horn, encountering winds exceeding 50 knots and waves as high as seven metres.
Varudkar said leading an all-women crew required a different leadership approach.
"Commanding a team of women is a different experience because you have to take care of emotions more and not just give commands. My major role was managing emotions, resolving conflicts, and ensuring communication, and with God's help and their support, we have come this far."
IASV Triveni sails across open waters during the all-women tri-services circumnavigation expedition, which has covered over 23,000 nautical miles since departing Mumbai in September 2025.
Image: Supplied
Smiles in the rain as members of the Indian diaspora welcome the all-women IASV Triveni crew, while Ruby Jaspreet looks on during the Cape Town arrival.
Image: Supplied
Deputy skipper Shraddha Raju said the months at sea reshaped how the crew viewed everyday life.
"When you are sailing, water, electricity, and even a warm bed become luxuries," she said. "Now we realise we are happy with the little things. We don’t need the big things."
Other crew members echoed similar sentiments of growth, resilience, and self-discovery forged under extreme conditions.
Major Karamjeet Kaur said the journey forced her to confront both her strengths and limitations, teaching her patience in uncertainty, while Major Prajakta Nikam described the final leg as a "victory" after carrying the Indian flag across oceans.
Squadron Leader Vaishali Bhandari recalled moments of beauty amid the hardship, including spotting whales at sea and the warm welcome that the crew received from Cape Town’s Indian diaspora.
The expedition expected to conclude in June is India’s first all-women tri-services circumnavigation and aims to cover over 43 000km in total.
India’s Consul General in Cape Town, Ruby Jaspreet, said the voyage reflects the growing role of women in the country’s armed forces.
"We are very proud of our all-women expedition. Women are taking on operational, strategic, and leadership roles across the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force," she said.
Crew members of IASV Triveni pose with Ruby Jaspreet on the dock in Cape Town after completing the fourth leg of their journey.
Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Media
High Commissioner Prabhat Kumar added that the Cape Town stopover also highlights the strengthening of maritime cooperation between India and South Africa.
As the crew prepares to set sail once more, their journey stands as a message to young women navigating their own paths, on land or at sea.
"Our women officers have sailed through some of the toughest oceans on the planet," the commissioner said in a statement.
"Proving that courage, skill, and teamwork know no gender."