Indian Navy ship to take part in races in Europe

NEW DELHI: INS Tarangini, the Sail Training Ship of Indian Navy, has commenced an eight-month voyage to participate in the annual Tall Ship Races and other events in Europe.

'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 voyage through the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the North Sea.

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, the vessel 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 in Europe and stood third in Youth Sailing Division in 2007 in the USA, a statement by the Navy said.

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 the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.