Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Indian Navy leads the way- Women officers set to circumnavigate

by Des Ryan on 5 Jan 2014
Shweta Kapur - already India’s greatest female sailor SW
While the development of leisure boating in India is greatly dominated by the purchase of powerboats by the ever expanding middle class, the Navy is leading the way in the development of sailing. First there was the circumnavigation, then the non-stop circumnavigation, and now the women naval officers are getting a piece of the action.

The Navy's first ever team of women sailors is beginning to take shape for a circumnavigation of the world as Lieutenant-Commander Shweta Kapur (pictured above) has started practicing as crew in the race from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro on board the sailing boat Mhadei, which Sail-World readers will remember as India's fine 56ft Van de Stadt - but Indian manufactured - yacht which completed the first ever Indian circumnavigation.

Lt Commander Shweta Kapur, an education officer, is one of the three women officers selected by the Navy for the mission to circumnavigate the globe in Mhadei.

The other two women officers include lieutenant Vartika Joshi and sub lieutenant P Swati. Shweta started her journey from Cape Town on Mhadei.

Dilip Dhonde, India's first solo circumnavigator on the same boat Mhadei, is the skipper of the boat. Shweta is being groomed by Dhonde who had also helped Abhilash Tomy, India's first non-stop circumnavigator.

On the way back from Rio after the completion of the race, Joshi and P Swati would get to sail back on Mhadei.

Shweta has become the first Indian naval officer to spend such a long time at sea. Normally to date women officers are allowed only day sailing on the naval vessels so this is a significant break through for the women.

Shweta, an avid adventurist, would be Mhadei's first woman skipper. Daughter of a naval officer, Shweta had volunteered for the Mhadei mission.

She became the first Indian woman to sail 5,000 miles non-stop on her first ever sea voyage to reach Cape Town.

Switch One DesignJeanneau Sun Odyssey 350Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Related Articles

Admiral's Cup Tom Hicks Thursday Photo Gallery
He is always ready to capture Solent action Tom Hicks is always ready to capture Solent action, and the Admiral's Cup naturally delivered. These shots are from Thursday 24th July 2025.
Posted today at 9:27 am
WASZP Games 2025 Day 4 Photo Gallery
A snapshot of the day by Mark Jardine It was a case of grabbing the wind and sunshine while it lasted on Day 4 of the 2025 WASZP Games, and each of the fleets got a bit of racing in before the rain started to fall and the breeze died away.
Posted today at 6:35 am
Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Preview
This year's edition is looking to break the light wind pattern and possibly set new records The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race (NSGCYR) has long been regarded as a cornerstone of any Australian offshore yachtie's calendar.
Posted today at 6:16 am
Admiral's Cup Inshore Racing Day 3
Youth, grit and glory define inshore battle The final day of inshore racing at the 2025 Admiral's Cup delivered high drama, high stakes and no shortage of action, especially at race starts. Three intense races pushed crews to the limit and completed the six-race inshore series.
Posted today at 4:58 am
WASZP Games 2025 Day 4
The Weymouth weather continued to keep the fleet guessing The Weymouth weather continued to keep the fleet guessing, with the northerly breeze hanging in the early forecast before giving way to a westerly build.
Posted today at 4:38 am
Admiral's Cup Paul Wyeth Thursday Photo Gallery
The battle points ahead of the Fastnet race intense The six-race inshore series has now been completed with an unstable northerly, swinging to the west later. The starts were particularly intense as the teams battled for points ahead of the Fastnet, and Paul Wyeth was on hand to capture the action.
Posted today at 4:18 am
Admiral's Cup 2025 | D3 Inshore Racing Videos
More light and tricky conditions on the Solent. Three races? More light and tricky conditions on the Solent. Three races?
Posted today at 1:55 am
Catalyst 45: Project Render delivery voyage
Catalyst 45 proved its versatility, and seaworthiness completing a 1,100nm Pacific Ocean voyage. While better known as an America's Cup tender, the Catalyst 45 proved the versatility, and seaworthiness of the design completing a 1,290nm Pacific Ocean delivery voyage to Fiji. Here's the story...
Posted on 24 Jul
O'pen Skiff World Championship in Japan
Team USA delivers a solid performance Five US sailors traveled to Nishinomiya, Japan for six days of challenging conditions, hot temperatures, and world class sailing. USA sailor Lucas Doran was in third place in the U17 fleet before the final day of racing.
Posted on 24 Jul
Admirals Cup: Day 4 - All hanging on the Fastnet.
The end of the beginning of the 2025 Admirals' Cup. Rán runs aground - claims redress. Today marked the End of the Beginning of the 2025 Admirals' Cup with the conclusion of Inshore racing on what is known as the "Central Solent". The Baltic teams' TP52 Rán hit a sandbank and has claimed redress.
Posted on 24 Jul