Sail Indonesia - History

History

In December 2000, as a result of an initiative from the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Aji Sularso from the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, it was decided to arrange a co-ordinated series of yacht races and rallies originating from both Darwin and Fremantle to Bali, then on to Pulau Seribu north of Jakarta and then to Batam just south of Singapore. Sail Indonesia was formed to manage the technical aspects of these events and to keep costs down these events were promoted and organised using the internet and email only. As a result in July 2001 a fleet of 16 yachts left Darwin for Bali, however the fleet from Fremantle did not eventuate. The 2001 event was a success and plans were made for a second event in 2002. The 2002 event attracted a total of 20 yachts and this too was regarded as a success with a send off party in Darwin and a formal reception and presentation dinner in Bali.

Following the 2002 Darwin to Bali Race discussions were held in Bali regarding the possibiity of including sailing destinations in Indonesia to the east of Bali because the yachts that had gone direct to Bali had missed the beautiful cruising areas in the waters of the islands to the east, including Timor, Alor, Lembata, Flores, Rinca, Komodo, Sumbawa and Lombok. In February 2003 at a meeting in Bali the Central Government in Jakarta represented by GAHAWISRI, the Indonesian Federation of Marine Tour Operators discussions were held to raise awareness of tourism, especially marine tourism in the eastern provinces of Indonesia. As a result Sail Indonesia was asked to arrange a yacht rally from Darwin to Kupang in 2003 to be run in conjunction with the Darwin to Bali Race. In July 2003 two fleets left Darwin with 23 yachts going direct to Bali and 24 yachts going to Kupang. The two events ran together in 2003 and again in 2004, however in 2005 due to lack of interest by yachts taking the direct route to Bali, that event was cancelled and 69 yachts went direct to Kupang. Kupang becoming the eastern gateway for yachts sailing into Indonesia.

As the result of the efforts of Raymond Lesmana from YCBI following the Darwin to Kupang Rally, Sail Indonesia now offers a series of events for the participants throughout Indonesia in Alor, Lembata, Riung, Labuan Bajo, Makassar, Bali, Kumai and Karimun Java. At each location the Local Government Offices arrange a number of art and cultural displays, tours and dinners. All these events are a result of these Indonesian Government initiatives and support, they are all very new and are being developed, improved and added to on an ongoing basis. These events enable participants to visit unique places away from the well worn tourist areas and experience unspoiled island life. Sail Indonesia has increased in popularity every year and in 2006 a total of 96 yachts participated. 140 expressions of interest had been received for the 2007 event at the start of the year.