World ARC visits Indonesia

World ARC © World Cruising Club

Following the fleets departure in Darwin Australia on Tuesday 6 September, the first stopover on the second half of their circumnavigation is on the island of Lombok in Indonesia. This island is located to the east of the more famous known island of Bali.

Lombok is circa 43 miles wide and 70 miles long in size with a population last recorded in 2010 of over 3 million. This makes for a busy island! However, the pace of life is less frantic than that of Bali. The highland areas of the island are forest-clad and mostly undeveloped. The lowlands are highly cultivated. Rice, soybeans, coffee, tobacco, cotton, cinnamon, cacao, cloves, cassava, corn, coconuts, copra, bananas and vanilla are the major crops grown in the fertile soils of the island.

The World ARC fleet are welcomed into Medana Bay Marina located on the northwest of the island. The moorings are predominately buoys but the bay is very sheltered and there is also the opportunity to anchor, or a few may tie up alongside the wooden jetty. During their stay participants have access to all the usual facilities to include a great restaurant called Saltfish where crews are sure to enjoy a few sundowners and share their stories about the crossing from Australia.

The World ARC 2022-2023 fleet is made up of 8 boats. 2 boats join the rally in Lombok, Chanto and Nakula. Chanto, a Bowman 48, completed the first half of World ARC in 2019 and we welcome skipper Peter Harvey and his wife Nicky back to the rally family. Nakula is the largest boat in the fleet, a Dixon 69, and we welcome skipper Masahisa Saito and the crew of 7 from Japan. Both boats joining Lombok have spent the last couple of months cruising the beautiful Lesser Sunda Islands and have many tales to share with the rest of the fleet.

The remaining boats in the fleet being to arrive today and will firstly be welcomed by customs and quarantine. Following this they will be cleared by immigration. During their stay in Indonesia the World ARC programme includes an exciting number of activities to include a tour to the oldest and most famous tourist area of the island, Senggigi. Along the way they will experience bustling market areas, a visit to Batu Bolong Temple and a drive through the Pusuk Pass forest where they will see the local moneys know as Pitu. A seafood BBQ lunch will be served on the beach before returning to the marina.

Many other activities will make for a busy but fun stopover in Lombok.