Twelve Yachts Arrive for Wakatobe Cultural Festival

Kendari, Indonesia - Twenty of the 146 yachts from various European countries, the United States and Australia, taking part in the "Wakatobi Cultural Festivity," have arrived in Wakatobi, South East Sulawesi, a district head said.

"Eight arrived on Saturday and another 12 today," Wakatobi district head Hugua told ANTARA by cellular phone from Wanci, district capital of Wakatobi (SE Sulawesi), on Sunday.

With the arrival of the other 12 yachts, the number of yachts which had anchored in the Wakatobi waters had reached 20, Hugua said.

He said that the 12 yachts which arrived on Sunday had sailed from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province. These boats initially planned to take part in the Sail Banda event in Maluku province but due to bad weather, they did not continue their trips to Banda but stopped at Wakatobi.

Hugua said that the yachts had entered Indonesia through East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province. But to continue their trips to Halmahera (Maluku province), the yachts were not able to face rough waves which could reach up to five meters high.

"Because of the bad weather the yachts decided to change course to Wakatobi to take part in the "Wakatobi Cultural Festival" which will begin on August 13, 2010," Hugua said.

Hugua said that he had contacted a sailor on an American yacht which had arrived at Wakatobi. The district head said he was informed by the American sailor that about 40 other yachts which had changed their directions would continue their trips from NTT to Wakatobi.

Regarding the "Sail Banda" participants which number about 50 yachts, Hugua said that they would entered Wakatobi in stages and it was expected that all of them would have arrived in Wakatobi on August 16, 2010.(*)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com
Picture: http://melayuonline.com

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