Photo: X / Defence PRO Visakhapatnam
The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini is scheduled to make a port call at Lyttelton near Christchurch late next week, depending on sea conditions.
The Navika Sagar Parikrama II expedition departed from Goa on 2 October as part of a bid by two female sailors of the Indian Navy to circumnavigate the globe.
Lieutenant Commander Roopa K and Lieutenant Commander Dilna K aim to cover the journey of approximately 40,000 kilometres in about eight months onboard their 17-metre-long vessel.
The vessel first stopped at Fremantle, Western Australia, before leaving on 24 November, aiming to cover the 6300-kilometre leg to Lyttelton in about 20 days.
The crew is expected to carry out a systems check of the vessel after arriving in Lyttelton on 16 December, making any repairs necessary.
Provisions will also be stocked up for the next leg to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands.
From there, the duo is expected to sail to Cape Town, South Africa, before returning to Goa.
"This [expedition] marks a significant milestone in naval ocean history as the first-ever circumnavigation of the globe onboard a sailing vessel by Indian women in double-handed mode," the Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Photo: X / Defence PRO Visakhapatnam
The Indian High Commission in Wellington said the two officers had been preparing for the expedition for three years.
"The officers [were] part of a six-member crew [that] had participated in trans-oceanic expedition from Goa to Rio de Janeiro via Cape Town and back in 2023," the Indian mission said in a statement.
"They had also undertaken a sailing expedition from Goa to Indian city of Port Blair and back in double-handed mode.
"The voyage is showcasing India's growing prominence in global maritime activities and gender equality on the high seas."
In December 2017, a six-member crew led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi docked in Lyttelton for two weeks, interacting with the local community and sharing India's maritime history.
The Indian High Commission is planning to greet the sailors with traditional Māori and Indian welcomes upon arrival.
A community interaction is also scheduled during their stay in the South Island.