Explore the Archipelago With Multihull Solutions-Wonderful Sail 2 Indonesia Rally
Jakarta. Explore some of the archipelago's many beautiful islands by joining the Multihull Solutions-Wonderful Sail 2 Indonesia 2017 yacht rally, scheduled to start later this month.
Multihull Solutions, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, has significantly expanded this year's event in contrast with two previous years since its inception.
Participating yachts departed to Papua New Guinea from Opua in New Zealand at the beginning of this month. After reaching the Royal Papua Yacht Club in Port Moresby, participants will traverse the length of the Indonesian archipelago from east to west.
The rally will sail from island to island between July 23 and Oct. 23.
"For three full months, rally participants can sail through exotic locations in Indonesia. From Southeast Maluku to Banda Neira and Namrole [in Central Maluku] up to Wanci in Wakatobi, each one can be explored," rally organizer Raymond Lesmana said in a statement on Friday (07/07).
Participants will be able to enjoy the sights of Southeast Maluku district from the start of the rally until July 27, when they will depart for Banda Neira. There they will remain until Aug. 2 before heading south. They are scheduled to arrive in Namrole, Buru Island, on Aug. 10, before departing to Wakatobi on Aug. 13.
"These are the best diving spots in Indonesia and the regions have been included in the Tourism Ministry's 10 prioritized destinations," Raymond said.
The rally will continue south for a stopover in Maumere, Flores, on Aug. 16-19, before arriving in Maurole, Ende, on Aug 21. Participants will then continue to Labuan Bajo on Aug. 24.
"Labuan Bajo is also a prioritized destination. There are Komodo Dragons that can be observed there" he continued.
Participants will then proceed to Sumbawa, Lombok and Bali, before sailing to Kumai in West Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan, where they will arrive on Sept. 27.
The rally will finally continue to the western part of Indonesia on Sept. 30, to explore destinations such as Bangka and Benan in Natuna and Tanjung Pinang in Riau Islands before ending in Batam on Oct. 23.
"Indonesia has issued participants with social-cultural visas that are valid for 60 days but which can be extended up to four times for 30 days at a time. So the yachters can take a six-month adventure," Raymond said.
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said excellent service should be top priority for yacht tourism.
"Starting from officials in the 'in and out' clearance, customs, immigration, quarantine officials, to harbormasters, they should go all out to support [the rally] if they wish Indonesia's yacht tourism to compete with the other global players," Arief said.
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