The Kenya Navy Sailing team finished fourth overall in the silver league of the recently concluded 14th edition of the Admiral’s Cup held at the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, India.
In the prestigious military sailing competition, which ran from December 8th to 14th, more than 33 international teams from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East competed for top honours in gold and silver categories.
The three-member Kenyan Navy Sailors team comprised Captain Robinson Kiplangat, who served as Officer in Charge, alongside Lieutenant Jackson Ndibo and Second Lieutenant Catherine Mutuku.
Naval teams in the competition were tested on technical sailing expertise, teamwork, and rapid decision-making while they navigated the shifting winds off India’s coastline.
Despite facing seasoned crews from established naval powers, the Kenyan team maintained consistency across multiple races.
While Kenya ranked fourth, Team INA (India) was the overall champion, while Team NDA (India) and Team Poland occupied second and third positions, respectively.
The Admiral’s Cup is regarded as one of the most demanding inter-naval sailing events, requiring crews to demonstrate mastery of navigation, boat handling, and tactical racing under pressure.
Despite missing out on the podium, Kenya’s Navy outperformed teams from several traditional maritime powers, including Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East, despite competing with fewer resources and limited international exposure.
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While India has been largely dominating in previous editions of the regatta, countries like Brazil, the USA, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and South Korea possessed significantly more experienced navies with long histories of competitive sailing.
Kenya’s performance, therefore, marked a significant milestone, underscoring the growing professionalism and competitiveness of the Kenya Navy in international maritime sports.
According to the organisers, the 2025 edition focused on seamanship and adaptability, reflecting real-world maritime conditions faced by naval forces.
By finishing just outside the podium in the highly competitive field, the Kenya Navy Sailing Team earned valuable experience and confidence ahead of future international regattas.
