INS Dronacharya Wins Kochi Area Pulling Regatta

INS Dronacharya Wins Kochi Area Pulling Regatta

The Kochi Area Pulling Regatta 2019 of the Southern Naval Command was conducted in the Ernakulam Channel on 31 January 2019. In a keenly contested event, the team from INS Dronacharya won the overall regatta trophy while Anti-Submarine Warfare  School & Diving School secured the runners up position.  Races during the regatta were conducted in the traditional pulling 'whalers' and held in four different categories viz. Junior Sailors, Senior Sailors, Officers and Best Whaler. The boats had to cover a distance of 1.6 km in the Ernakulam Channel, starting from the Venduruthy-Vikrant Bridge and finishing at the North Jetty of the navy. Six teams, formed from all major  units of SNC  based at Kochi, participated in the regatta.

Vice Admiral AK Chawla, AVSM, NM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief , Southern Naval Command, was the Chief Guest on the occasion and presented the awards to the winners and runners up. The C-in-C also presented the Godavari Trophy to Anti-Submarine Warfare School and Diving School for being the overall winner of the Kochi Area Sports Championship 2018-19.  

The Boat Pulling Regatta is one of the most prestigious and traditional naval sporting activities conducted in the Navy. The boats used in the regatta are 27 feet long 'whalers' - a type of seaboat - each having a crew of five 'pullers' (rowers) and one coxswain (helm).  The boats are named as “whalers” as they were used in ancient times for catching whales at sea. The Regatta is considered a signature event of the Command, which requires the highest standards of physical and mental fitness as well as strength, team work, coordination and sustained hard work and practice. Winning the 'Regatta Cock' is a matter of great pride and honour for the team which finishes first overall.