RALLY

The Organisation

Sail Indonesia is a non commercial organization dedicated to promoting Indonesia as a destination for cruising yachts and to introduce you to some of the most exciting and interesting sailing destinations in the world and to raise the awareness of Indonesia as a Marine Tourism Destination.

Sail Indonesia is conducted by the Indonesian Marine Foundation YCBI and is supported by all levels of the the Indonesian Government and in co-operation with Raffles Marina in Singapore and Sail Malaysia.

This English language web site is to promote, co-ordinate and organize the yachts that leave Darwin to participate in the, Sail Indonesia Rally, Singapore and then on to Sail Malaysia.

Origins
In December 2000 as a result of an initiative from the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Mr Aji Sularso from the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, it was decided to arrange a coordinated series of yacht races and rallies originating from both Darwin and Fremantle in Western Australia to Bali, then on to Pulau Seribu north of Jakarta and then to Batam just south of Singapore.
It was planned that these events would carry on the traditions of the Darwin to Ambon Yacht Race which had been held for over 20 years from 1976 but ceased in 1999 as a result of civil unrest on the island of Ambon and the surrounding areas.

Sail Indonesia was formed to manage and organise the technical aspects of these events and to keep costs down these events are managed, promoted and organized using the internet and email only.
As a result in July 2001 a fleet of 16 yachts left Darwin for Bali, however the fleet from Fremantle did not eventuate. Although small the 2001 event was a regarded as a success and plans were made for a second event in 2002. The 2002 Darwin Bali Race event attracted a total of 20 yachts and this too was regarded as a success with a send off party in Darwin and a formal reception and presentation and dinner at the Royal Bali Yacht Club at Benoa in Bali.

Following the 2002 Darwin to Bali Race discussions were held in Bali regarding the possibility of including sailing destinations in Indonesia to the east of Bali because the yachts that had gone direct to Bali had missed the beautiful cruising areas in the waters off the islands to the east, including Timor, Alor, Lembata, Flores, Rinca, Komodo, Sumbawa and Lombok.

In February 2003 at meetings in Bali between Sail Indonesia and representatives from the Indonesian Central Government ideas were discussed to raise awareness of tourism, especially marine tourism in the eastern provinces of Indonesia, following this Sail Indonesia was asked to arrange a second yacht rally from Darwin to Kupang in 2003 to be run at the same time as the Darwin to Bali Race.

In July 2003 two fleets left Darwin with 23 yachts going direct to Bali and 24 yachts going to Kupang. The two events were successful with the numbers increasing each year, these events ran together in 2003 and again in 2004, however in 2005 due to lack of interest by yachts taking the direct route to Bali, that event was cancelled and 69 yachts went direct to Kupang. Kupang was becoming the Eastern Gateway for yachts sailing into Indonesia.

Following the Darwin to Kupang Rally Mr Raymond Lesmana of YCBI now offers a 3 month series of events for the participants throughout Indonesia in Alor, Lembata, Riung, Labuan Bajo, Makassar, Bali, Kumai and Karimun Java. The Local Government Offices at each location arrange a number of art and cultural displays, tours and dinners.

All these destinations in Indonesia are a result of Indonesian Government initiatives and support, they are all very new and are being developed, improved and added to on an ongoing basis.
These events enable participants to visit places unique and interesting places well away from the well worn tourist areas and experience the local traditional and unspoiled island life.
Sail Indonesia has increased in popularity every year and in 2006 a total of 96 yachts entered and increased again in 2007 to 123 yachts. In 2008 117 yachts participated and it seems that around 120 yachts will be the expected number each year.

While there is no overall governing body, Sail Indonesia is a key part of this group of independent organisations that use the the Sail Indonesia Rally and the programs that follow as promotional events to raise awareness of tourism and especially marine tourism in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Sail Indonesia has associates in Darwin, Kupang, Bali, Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and the organisers can be contacted by email at mail@sailindonesia.net.