Sail Indonesia 2013: A Spellbinding Voyage to the Seas Around Komodo and Beyond

Entering its 13th year, the annual international sailing event series Sail Indonesia will be held once again this year from 27th July to 9th September 2013. This year, the main highlight will be the Sail Komodo which will take yachts and ships into the beautiful waters around Komodo Island.

Sail Indonesia 2013 will depart from Darwin on Saturday 27th July 2013 at 11 am and during the following three months all participants are invited to participate in a linked series of Events and Cultural Festivals at the different stopovers across Indonesia on the islands of Timor, Banda, Buru, Ternate, Morotai, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flores, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Kalimantan, Belitung and finally on to Batam or Bintan just south of Singapore.

 

At each of the stopovers, participants will be able to experience the diversities of peoples, cultures, lifestyles, arts, crafts, foods and beverages, and of course languages. Everyone is welcome to participate in all events and stopovers after the first port of entry, as the Indonesia Organizing Committee at each port will provide h hospitality, reception and festivities.

Sail Komodo will be the main event for this year  and as in past years the Local Administration at each of the islands has planned a number of events at time of the arrival which often includes a ceremonial welcome and dinner as well as cultural and arts displays and also dance performances. Participants will  get the chance to see some of the more secluded, interesting and less known parts of Indonesia as they sail across the archipelago.

As in the past years Kupang will be the first entry point at 10° 09 and 123° 34' located 420 miles W.N.W. of Darwin. From there, participants can follow the traditional western passage that goes through Alor, Lembata, Maumere, Mausembi, Maurole (Ende), Riung, Labuan Bajo, Lombok, Bali, Karimun Jawa, Teluk Kumai (for Tanjung Puting orangutans), Belitung and Bangka.

Saumlaki at 07° 54’ and 131° 20’ - 300 miles north of Darwin will again be available as the port of entry into Indonesia in the Sail Indonesia 2013. From here, yachts and ships can sail to the west via Banda and Wakatobi then on to Flores or Bali to rejoin the group of yachts that first went to Kupang. Subsequently, they can join the traditional route known as the Western Passage that will take the course  through the rest of Indonesia to Bintan or Batam.

The annual Sail Indonesia rallies, are organized by Sail Indonesia, a non-commercial institution , which is self supporting and has no sponsors. The mission of the organization is to raise awareness of Indonesia’s fantastic waters as a Marine Tourist Destination, both above and below the surface of the sea, and promote the Indonesian seas as a cruising arena for yachts, thereby introducing some of the islands’ historic, cultural and natural attractions.

Sail Indonesia events across Indonesia are arranged with the cooperation and support of the Indonesian Government, in particular with the Ministry of Fisheris and Marine Affairs and are supported by the provincial and district governments at the various ports across the country.

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