Sail Wakatobi-Belitong Regatta under Way from Darwin

Jakarta, Indonesia - The Sail Wakatobi-Belitong 2011 yacht race departed en masse from Darwin, Australia, on Saturday and the 111 participants will sail for more than two months, visiting 21 Indonesian regencies.

The participants were seen off by Indonesian Maritime and Fisheries Ministry secretary-general Gellwynn Jusuf.

“As many as 111 participants from 18 countries are taking part in this event,” he said in a press statement sent to Antara news agency on Sunday.

Gellwynn said the figure was an increase from 107 participants in last year‘s Sail Banda.

Sail Wakatobi-Belitong 2011 is a follow-up to Sail Bunaken in North Sulawesi in 2009 and Sail Banda in Maluku in 2010, the press statement says.

The racing teams are grouped into two divisions: those heading east and expected to arrive in  Saumlaki, Maluku, between July 26 and July 30, and those heading west and expected to arrive in Kupang between July 27 and July 31.

The eastward division will sail to Ambon, Buru, Wakatobi, Bau-Bau and Makassar, while westward division will head to Alor, Lembata, Ende and Alung.

They are all expected to meet in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, between Aug. 31 and Sep. 5 and then sail in regatta to North Lombok, Bali, Karimun Jawa, Kumal and Belitong from Oct. 5 to 12, before finishing their voyage in Singapore.

The capstone events will take place at Sombu Beach in Wakatobi from Aug. 23 to 29, and at Tanjung Kelayang beach in Belitung from Oct. 5 to 12, with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expected to attend the latter.

Sail Wakatobi-Belitong 2011 is aimed at promoting tourism in Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, and in Belitong.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com

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