INS Dronacharya wins overall Kochi Area Pulling Regatta trophy

The INS Dronacharya team won the overall regatta trophy in the Kochi Area Pulling Regatta 2018 of the Southern Naval Command (SNC) held here today.
INS Dronacharya won the overall regatta trophy (called The Cock) while Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) School and Diving School secured the runners up position.
The regatta races were held in three different categories -- Junior Sailors, Senior Sailors and Officers -- over 1.6 km in the Ernakulam Channel, starting at Venduruthy-Vikrant Bridge and finishing at the North Jetty of the Navy.
Six teams from all major Kochi based units of SNC participated in the regatta, a press release said.

Vice Admiral A R Karve, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, SNC, was the Chief Guest and presented the awards to the winners and runners up.
He also presented the Godavari Trophy to INS Dronacharya for being the overall winner in the Kochi Area Sports Championships.

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,' each having a crew of five pullers (rowers) and one coxswain (helm), it said.
The Regatta is considered a signature event of SNC,which requires the highest standards of physical and mental fitness and strength, team work, coordination and sustained hard work and practice.

Winning the 'Cock' is a matter of great pride and honour to the team which finishes first overall.