Mumbai. 15 January 2020. The Bombay Engineer Group and Centre is celebrating two hundred years of the saga of valor, sacrifice and accomplishment in the service of the Indian Army in January 2020.
The Bombay Sappers are the pioneers of many Adventure Activities in the Indian Army and have participated in numerous Mountaineering Expeditions, Round the World Sailing and Skydiving.
To mark this momentous occasion a Sailing expedition has been planned from Mumbai to Okha & back from 15-27 January 2020. The 13 days sailing expedition will test the skills of sailors on high seas. The expedition is led by Lt Col MK Singh & consists of five Officers, two Junior Commissioned Officers & 35 Other Rank from all arms & services to include Engineers, EME, Signals, SIKHLI & MARATHA LI troops. It is interesting to note that on a Bombay Sappers expedition they have personnel from SIKH LI & MARATHA LI ; because all the three have strong bonds being of same lineage ,while EME & Signals will provide maintenance & communication cover respectively.
The expedition is being sailed on four Seabird class of boat as visible to you in the creek waters of the mighty Arabian Sea. Seabird is primarily a harbor sailing boat with a length of 21 feet & width of 8.5’ and a sail area of approximate 180 sq ft. The boat has a draft of 1’1” at the stern with basic facilities on board. The expedition is being conducted in four legs as under , with a distance of approximate 800 nautical miles.
(a) Leg I – Mumbai to Porbandar
(b) Leg II – Porbandar to Okha
(c) Leg III – Okha to Porbandar
(d) Leg IV – Porbandar to Mumbai
The expedition was flagged off by Lt Gen Michael Mathews, PVSM, VSM**, Commandant, CME, Pune and Colonel Commandant, The Bombay Sappers from HBTC Marve at 12.30 p.m.on 15th. January 2020.
ADU wishes the sailors favorable winds and safe sailing.
