MYR1,000,000 needed for Fin's circumnavigation

by Hilary Sebastian, BERNAMA.com on 26 May 2008 Ariffin Abdul Aziz has a big dream - to walk in the footsteps of Datuk Azhar Mansor and become the second Malaysian to sail solo around the world. The 44-year-old has the boat to do it, but has hit a snag. He needs sponsorship of about RM1 million more to realise the goal.

His main sponsor, Samling Global, a timber giant based in Miri, Sarawak, has provided him with a RM2.2 million yacht, the 'Ulumulu', to undertake the voyage but needs about RM1 million in additional sponsorship to buy support equipment like satellite telephone, spare parts and also enough food and water provisions and medicines for the journey.

Ariffin, who hails from Seremban but is now based in Miri, told Bernama that he was to undertake the project last year but modifications to the racing yacht for circumnavigation and insufficient sponsorship 'threw a spanner into the works'.

His planned voyage will be 3,000 nautical miles longer than Azhar's 28,649 nautical miles achieved in 1999 on the 'Jalur Gemilang'.

Apart from pursuing his dream, a main objective of the trip is to promote Malaysia and Miri as tourist destinations specifically for yachting and also their many attractive sailing events, among them the 2008 Borneo Cup and the Raja Muda Regatta in November, said Ariffin.

A former Royal Malaysian Navy personnel, Arffin sailed solo from Thursday Island in Australia to Miri in Sarawak, a distance of 2,800 nautical miles, last December in preparing for the round-the-world voyage.

Those wishing to support Ariffin in his endeavour can contact him at 085-423033/417025, 085-417249 (facsimile) or e-mail him at www.fin@mirimarina.com.