Sail Banda kicks off

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 07/24/2010 8:31 PM      

The much awaited international marine event of Sail Banda kicked off in Darwin on Saturday.

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono flagged off 49 of 106 foreign yachts to mark the start of the Sail Banda 2010 at Darwin's Cullen Bay, Antara news agency reported.

Spokesperson for the Maluku Culture and Tourism Office Florence Sahusilawane said participants of the event were scheduled to reach Banda Neira in on July 27.

Sahusilawane said all the yachts would also participate in a series of cultural festivals at different stopovers in Indonesia in the next three months, including the islands of Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flores, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Borneo, Belitung and Batam or Bintan.

Located about 132 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital of Ambon, Banda Islands are made up of three larger islands and seven smaller ones perched on the rim of Indonesia`s deepest sea, the Banda Sea.

A reception ceremony attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will be held on Aug. 3 for the participants.

Maluku governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said his administration would ensure order and security during the event.