30 May 16

Its been some time since I last updated this blog. To avoid losing track of what we have been upto, let me jot down some happenings of the past. Post completion of the International Fleet Review in Feb 16, we sailed back the Mhadei with a crew of five from Vizag and arrived in Goa  on the eve of 7^th Mar 16. We were received by our Mentor Cdr Dilip Donde at the Mandovi Boat Pool who had been anxiously waiting for our safe return. People tell us we got his heart in his mouth as he let us go on our own on his beloved boat.  But finding him happy and proud as we came back home safely was indeed satisfying. We were then given a nice official welcome by the Navy the very next day as it also happened to be the International Women’s Day!

The next pit stop was going to be Mauritius and we knew what to expect after we returned from Vizag. Its said that good things do not come easy, next two months were not going to be easy either. The boat needed our attention and there was plenty of planning and work to be brought to completion before we set sail for a destination 2500 nautical miles from homeland. Why Mauritius you ask? Coz its my favourite destination!? Well well I am yet to figure it outJ The destination was chosen mainly for two reasons; It would train us to sail back the boat by the SW monsoons and experience some big seas and stronger winds. Second, it would serve to train the newer hands in the boat to sail on longer ocean passages.

With two months and a half of preparation and planning and working and getting works done to ready the boat, the mind was so longing to head out. On the 24^th of May, with the ACPS, seniors and friends present at the Mandovi boat pool to cast us off, the Mhadei set sail with her full working strength of six women officers for Mauritius.