Arung Samudra '95: Smooth sailing and high spirits

By Mulkan Salmona

BENOA PORT, Bali (JP): A pistol shot was fired from the Indonesian navy ship Teluk Banten just as the sun was setting overhead. Other shots, fired by Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Tanto Koeswanto, followed, marking the start of Arung Samudra '95 sailboat/yacht race on Aug. 7, 1995.

The signal set in motion hundreds of yacht and boat people participating in the event. Not long after that, hundreds of yachts raced towards the open sea. There were about 113 yachts from 10 countries anchored at Benoa Port, Bali, since Aug. 2, 1995.

In the meantime, the tall ships, which had been undergoing daily assaults from visitors, were also preparing to leave Benoa. Several hours later, the tall ships, including the navy ships Dewaruci and Maruta Jaya (Indonesia), B.E. Esmeralda (Chile), Akogare (Japan) and Young Endeavor (Australia) moved slowly towards the start line in the Masalem waters, located around Sapudi Island, 170 sea miles off Benoa. All their sails remained unfurled as they were still allowed to use their engines. Once they left the start line, however, engines were strictly forbidden and a violation would result in a disqualification.

The yachts, which were previously anchored side by side in a friendly group, were trying to get away from each other until they vanished from sight, as if swallowed by the ocean.

After having been rocked for one day and night by the navy ship Multatuli, we arrived at Sapuda Island. Because the start had been fixed for 2 p.m., I still had plenty of time to make preparations to document the race with my camera. But, when I was busy cleaning my camera and lenses, I watched the Search and Rescue team readying their equipment and lowering an inflatable dingy from the ship's deck. After making inquiries, I found out that they were to extend a helping hand to Phinisi Nusantara, which was having an engine problem.

Several members of the Search and Rescue team and an engine mechanic dove into the water and swam towards the Phinisi which was lagging far behind. The Phinisi, for the greater part manned by members of the Navy Women Corps, had to be towed by a pilot boat to the starting line. The engine damage, however, was bigger than foreseen and could not possibly be fixed within a short time. This did not mean, however, that Phinisi Nusantara was out of the race. It would remain in the race as its sails were still in good order.

At exactly 2 p.m., Admiral Bambang Soeryanto, the naval chief of the eastern fleet, fired several shots from the navy ship Teluk Banten, signaling the start of the race for tall ships.

I witnessed the race of the tall ships from the air in a navy helicopter. I saw how they tried to outdo each other. The B.E. Esmeralda and Dewaruci, for example, were clearly vying for first place.

The ships were expected to make the finish line in Cape Krawang (Tanjung Krawang), West Java on Aug. 12, 1995, but this expectation proved to be wrong. Australia's A Room With View, crossed the finish line first on Aug. 10. This entitled the yacht, headed by skipper Wayne and three ship hands, to the trophy from President Soeharto and the cash prize of US$2,000.

On Aug. 11, two of the 15 tall ships, Orsa Magiore (Italy) and Adelaar (England), made the finish first. Unfortunately, both ships belonged to the C class, which rendered them unsuitable to win the presidential trophy and the $2,000 cash prize since the award was meant for tall ships of the A caliber, or ships with an approximate length of 45 meters such as the B.E. Esmeralda, Dewaruci, Akogare, and Leeuwin II.

On Aug. 12, all participants completed the race and arrived in Cape Krawang. The ships had to sail for another hour to the Marina in Ancol, North Jakarta, to finish the race at Tanjung Priok Bay.

The race, held in conjunction with Indonesia's 50th anniversary, was successful given the smooth undertaking. Only an accident occurred when an Australian yacht, Gundy Grey, hit a coral reef around Bulumanuk Island near Madura, East Java. The Search and Rescue team on board the navy ship Multatuli, however, took hold of the situation and towed the Gundy Grey into the nearest harbor of Surabaya for repair.

After several days of challenging the sea, intense struggling against the winds, setting sails and negotiating shipping strategies, the participants had to admit that the jury's decision was final and irrevocable. They had to abide by the jury's decision to declare Dewaruci the winner, followed by B.E. Esmeralda and Akogare in the second and third places respectively.

Even though the jury's decision held a note of surprise, causing disagreement among some of the participants, the decision was considered a fair one since the jurors were a specially chosen team. They consisted of a panel of foreign experts whose expertise in boat racing were indisputable.

The Arung Samudra '95 boat race was over. This does not mean, however, the end of the sailing business. The matter of winning or losing need not be raised here. To the sailor whose love for the sea is endless, the matters that concern him most would be getting the sails underway and getting ready to face the challenge.