Sail Indonesia - a rally into Asia

by Nancy Knudsen on 15 May 2012 Every year hundreds of cruising sailors finish their cruising in the Pacific, their visits to New Zealand and Australia and are ready for their next great adventure - Asia.

In addition, New Zealand and Australian cruising sailors head north in the same rallies, heading for their own adventures.

Sail Indonesia is one of the rallies which traditionally depart just at the right time to start cruising the thousands of friendly islands that make up Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. A fewer number turn north west and head for Vietnam or the Philippines.

Sail Indonesia 2012 will depart from Darwin on Saturday July 28 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, Borneo, Belitung and finally on to Batam or Bintan just south of Singapore.

Apart from the fact that joining a rally makes the bureaucracy of getting a cruising permit to visit Indonesia, the involvement of the local administrations at each of the Indonesian islands means that there are events planned at the time that the yachts visit. Often, too, there are ceremonial welcomes, dinners, as well as cultural displays and dance performances which it would be difficult to see otherwise.

It is an entree into the more remote, interesting and less developed parts of Indonesia as you cross the country often away from the well worn tourist areas.

Not that each of the stopovers is the same - the peoples and their cultures are different, as are their lifestyles, their art and their food, not to mention completely different languages.

While participants are welcome join all events and stopovers after the first port of entry in Kupang or Saumlaki (and some cruising sailors try to), there is usually just not enough time, so you can join as many, or as few as you like.

The Indonesia Organising Committee at each port provides hospitality, reception and festivities.

Finally the rally will arrive in Singapore, a wonderful stopover, ideal for all marine services that you might need, as well as a break after your long voyage across Indonesia.

For instance, Singapore is home to Raffles Marina, a full-fledged country club, offering a first class range of facilities and services. Located at the west end of Singapore, away from the hustle and bustle of city, with unique nautical surroundings. It also provides easy access to Singapore’s best sailing and cruising waters, a full service boat repair yard and dry stack storage for powered boats. Protected by a solid breakwater, it offers the comfort of a safe and calm stay. Shore power services, freshwater supply and Wireless Internet are also available around the clock.

Stunning sea view sunsets, alfresco dining or taking a dip in the landscaped tropical pool are just a few of the treats in store for visitors.

After Indonesia, comes Malaysia. Sail Indonesia is in partnership with Sail Malaysia, and after the Sail Indonesia program across Indonesia, which ends at the end of October one can then sail on to join Sail Malaysia which will take you from Danga Bay located just north of Singapore up the west coast of Malaysia again in a series of linked events finishing at the island of Langkawi in the second week of December.

For information or to register your interest email the organisers at mail@sailindonesia.net. (A special request is that, please, each time you email them, use the name of your yacht in the email subject line.)