Kollam: As many as 65 naval cadets from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Kerala and Lakshadweep Directorate have embarked on a challenging 220 km sailing expedition, navigating the serene backwaters of Kerala from Kollam to Kannankara in Alappuzha. This 10-day voyage, which began on Thursday morning, is designed to push the limits of their physical and mental resilience, all while they soak in the state's natural beauty via National Waterway-3.

Named ‘The Sailing Expedition 2025, the expedition was flagged off by Brigadier Suresh G, Group Commander, NCC Group Kollam, at the 3(K) Naval Unit NCC, Thevally, Kollam. The sailing team comprises 34 boys and 29 girls from various districts of Kerala, along with two cadets from Lakshadweep. 

Led by Capt Unnikrishnan, Commanding Officer of 3(K) Naval Unit NCC, their voyage is on three DK Whalers, a type of non-motorised boat, each 27-foot long, used in training and competitions. They will pass through Ashtamudi, Punnamada and Vembanad lakes.

According to Lt Commander Rahul Das, who is the deputy coordinator of the expedition, the sailing cadets were selected based on their proficiency in swimming, physical fitness, and aptitude for DK Whaler pulling/ sailing. The cadets undertook the voyage after undergoing rigorous training at their respective NCC Units. The route has been thoroughly pre-surveyed by the staff of 3(K) Naval Unit to identify possible hazards.

“The expedition, held annually, is aimed to instill discipline, teamwork, and resilience in cadets, preparing them to face future challenges. The aim is to cover up to 25 km daily. On Thursday, they ended the sail near Amritapuri. At a time, only 10 cadets will be sailing in a boat, and we keep changing the crew to avoid fatigue. The sailors are using all safety measures, including lifejackets and gloves, and there is a senior NCC instructor in every boat,” Das said.

The cadets are also advised to hydrate every 20 minutes and they are using sunscreen, full hand sleeves and masks to avoid sunburns. Medical teams and rescue boats are also accompanying the whalers in separate boats.

“It is a wonderful experience and a challenging test of our endurance. We have been preparing for the expedition for over a year. The halt points and route are fixed and we have senior officers guiding us. Once we reach Kannankara, we will sail back to Kollam, thus covering 220 km in total,” said Adityan AM, one of the cadets and a student of College of Engineering, Chengannur.