Australian yacht first to reach target

JAKARTA (JP): Australia's A Room With A View was the first ship to cross the finish line in the Arung Samudera 1995 yacht race between Bali and Jakarta on Wednesday night.

Whether or not it has clinched the $2,000 first prize and the trophy, however, depends on the jury's decision which will take into account the handicaps of all the top finishers.

A Room With A View passed the finish line off Karawang, West Java, around midnight and was expected to reach the Marina in Ancol, Jakarta, later yesterday, according to Antara in a dispatch from the KRI Teluk Banten, the Navy warship monitoring the Arung Samudera races.

In addition to the yacht race, which involved 119 ships when it started in Bali on Monday, there is also the tall ship race, involving 22 ships, which started on Tuesday off Madura island. The winner of the tall ship race will win a trophy from President Soeharto.

According to Antara, A Room With A View had led the yacht race from the start, with Darwin Evolution, also of Australia, following close behind.

In the tall ship race, the Orsa Magiore of Italy, Adellar of the United Kingdom and the Adventure of New Zealand are leading the pack. (emb)