Wednesday 27 May 2015

CAPTAIN’S bLOG

           Just a day into our voyage from Salalah to Jeddah and the winds shifted for the better. We clocked 6.5 knots on an average under sails. Also had the privilege of being escorted by the star of Op Rahat, INS Sumitra. We maintained west of the general stream of traffic and Sumitra was there all the time to clear off anybody who dared come close.

            Very rarely does one get an opportunity to sail in company of coursemates. Last time I and Milind were together was onboard Tir as part of the First Training Squadron. Now that I am back in the Squadron though in a different capacity, one can’t help but reminisce over those glorious days. Ones first tenure onboard a ship teaches you a lot. These lessons are not only in classrooms but in your day to day rig-morale onboard. Lessons on Leadership and Conduct from INA and NDA are seen in practice onboard. While most you forget, some leave an indelible mark on your personality. MCPO Jakhu, the Master Chief Bosun’s Mate (MCBM) of INS Tir was one such individual. As MCBM and the whole ship coordinator it was upon him to plan, delegate and execute all sundry jobs for the day. And he was the epitome of man management. He could, as somebody put it, get an octopus to walk and a rock to swim. So much was his fame that we named a uniform after him, calling it the ‘Jakhu Blues’. It was from the likes of MCBM Jakhu, we  learnt that “Nothing is Impossible”. All one needs is a willing mind and effective leadership. He would get four of us to do things that would normally need ten ‘Able Bodied Seamen’. It was from him that we learnt that problems are how you look at them. He would thus muster the Cadets to shift a ‘Reel of Thread’ from the jetty to the ship. Only later would one realise that this thread would actually be ‘220 meter, 64 mm, multiplated, Towing Hawser’.
So today we salute the likes of Jakhu MCPO I, for it is because of them, that we are a force to reckon with, that we accomplish what Sumitra did in Op Rahat, that we the Crew of Tarangini undertake Lokayan-15 across Four Seas, Two Oceans, 17000 miles over Seven months…….. It is the because of the Jakhus of yesteryears that we realise that it is upon us, the Crew of Tarangini, to mould the future generations to the requirements of the Navy, the Nation and the Planet.

Stay at Salalah


          Our stay at Salalah attracted good media coverage the highlights being the visit by children from Indian School, Day at Sea with dignitaries and Media personnel and reception hosted by the Indian Social club.


       The day at sea was a big hit with the dignitaries and the Media personnel. We showcased what a day at sea looks like for a Sail Training Ship. The crew put up a fervent display of Mast Drill, Sail Setting and Tacking drills. Mast drill competition was won by the Mainmast while the Tug of War was won by Foremast. Prizes were given by The Ambassador and two Omani dignitaries.

Monday 25 May 2015

The Day at Sea - Salalah

   The ship had an oppurtunity to host His Excellence Mr J S Mukul the Indian Ambassador to The Sultanate of Oman, diginitaries from the Oman Ministry and media personnel for a day at sea. The visitors were given an  oppurtunity vitness what a day at sea looks like for the crew of a Sail Ship.

Friday 22 May 2015

CAPTAIN'S BLOG

Omanis are known for their polite demeanor, generous nature, and unmatched hospitality. An hospitality that can be matched only by their special Omani Halwa and Kahwa, the cardamom flavoured coffee. On arrival I Called On the Local Naval Commander of the RNO base at Salalah. I was accompanied by the Defense Adviser and Sea Trainee Pathania (The Captain’s Doggie). The purpose of taking the Sea Trainee along was for him to learn from these interactions with senior officers and dignitaries.
True to Traditional Omani hospitality we were welcomed by the Captain RNO base at Salalah with complete fanfare involving a Ceremonial Guard and the Halwa. The tradition is that when you visit an Omani house a large bowl of this Halwa made off dates and dry fruits is placed in the centre. Every guest takes a spoon full of this dish, holds the spoon in the left hand and uses the right hand to put the halwa in your mouth. The spoon can thus be used again by everybody. Let me tell you, once you have had one spoon of this rich and delicious dish it’s difficult to stop. This is followed by Kahwa, the cardamom flavoured coffee served to you in a small cup. One can have it again or decline in the peculiar Omani fashion where you put your hand on top of the cup and shake it to say ‘Shukran’. The initial pleasantries were followed by a fruitful discussion on our growing bilateral cooperation, both military and diplomatic. Our host had visited India on a couple of occasions and had fond memories from his visits.
After the exchange of gifts and some more pleasantries we depart for the ship. On the way back, with a hope that this visit would have been an excellent learning experience for the young turk, I asked the Subaltern, “So what have you learnt today? Any questions?” To this my ever attentive understudy most diligently says,” Sir, The Omani Halwa was exceptionally nice. Can we buy some on the way back?

Moral of the Story – Like the warning on a Gun Mount that says “Caution - Mounting May Train Without Warning”, the Trainees should come with --
Caution – Sea Trainees May Train Without Warning”. (What they learn, is anybody’s guess.)

Thursday 21 May 2015

FOR THE UNINITIATED

INS Tarangini, Indian Navy’s first Sail Training Ship (STS) was built in Goa Shipyard and was commissioned on 11 Nov 97. The name Tarangini is derived from the word ‘Tarang’ meaning waves, thus Tarangini means ‘The One That Rides The Waves’. The ship is a ‘Three-Masted Barque’ signifying that she is a square rigged on Fore and Main mast and fore and aft rigged on Mizzen mast. The vessel is steel hulled with an aluminium deckhouse and teak wood interiors. She is built for worldwide operations and carries 20 sails with a total sail area of about 1000 square meters and has steamed over 1,85,000 nautical miles since commissioning. A total of 190 ropes run across her length of 54 meters and height of 36.5 meters. The ship has excellent endurance and can remain at sea continuously for a period of over 20 days.


            The primary role of the ship is to foster time honoured virtues of courage, camaraderie, endurance and espirit-de-corps in officer cadets embarking onboard. The ‘Tall Ship’ as she is popularly known believes that training onboard these ships is the best method of instilling among the trainees the indefinable. ‘Sea-sense’ and respect for elements of nature which are inseparable from safe and successful seafaring. Tarangini provides an ideal setting for first-hand experience of the natural elements by imparting training which includes watch-keeping and sail manoeuvres.

Sunday 17 May 2015

The passage from Karwar to Salalah (Oman) comprised of 1165 NM and was envisaged to the traversed at 4.7 knots in 10 days. As anticipated the ship experienced a steady current of 1-1 ½ knots against and head on winds. One realizes that the term “fair winds and following seas” was actually meant for square riggers and that too with a pinch of salt. We did what we could to make good 4.7 knots, as was the requirement.
Fifth day at sea brought some rough weather with wind speeds in excess of 25 knots and a wave height of 2 meters. There is definitely no better way for the Sea Trainees to gain their sea legs than to sail this “White Swan” in such challenging weather.
       
          Last two days before entering Salalah were, however, a blessing. We guess Lord Varuna heeded to the Sea Trainees’ prayers, who had been on the ball, tacking frequently and trying to sail her as close hauled as possible. Winds shifted south and we managed a steady broad reach till land fall.

Leaving Harbour Karwar

KARWAR TO SALALAH

After a rejuvenating stay under the overhang of R 33, we cast off from Karwar on the 4th of May 15. An expected ESEly current and WNWly winds necessitated an early morning cast off.

Thursday 14 May 2015

The epic moment was frozen in time through some frames ... more such thrilling moments are sure to follow....



LOKAYAN 15



        Months of strenuous and focussed preparations were brought to their logical conclusion:Ironically the conclusion was just the beginning. With much fanfare and display of characteristic Naval Josh from either side of the ship’s brow Tarangini gracefully slipped from south jetty at Kochi and departed for this voyage, herein after to be immortalised as Lokayan - 15

       As the ship sets sail for this 17000 Nm, 18 port, 13 country Voyage, spanning over Seven months, we the crew of this Tall Ship look forward to exciting times across four seas and two oceans. The final destination will be the Tall Ship Events in UK, Norway, Germany, Denmark and Netherland. This year the ship participates in these event demonstrating India Navy's extending reach for the sole purpose of ensuring a safe and secure maritime environment. And thus the theme....

LOKAYAN 15 - TACKING FOR A BROADER REACH