Fun regatta to start next week

JAKARTA (JP): About 60 yachts from 20 countries, who participated in the 1995 Arung Samudra race from Bali to Jakarta, will refresh their competitions in two races around the waters of Jakarta's Seribu Islands on Aug. 26 and Aug. 27.

Both races requires a triangular cruise with the first leg to the east of Pelangi Island and the second leg to the west of Matahari Island. Yachts to be pitted in the two races are keelboats, monohulls and multihulls.

To add zest, 16-foot Hobie catamarans and sailboards will also be contested. This auxiliary race will start on Aug. 25 from Ancol to Pelangi Island, followed by an M-course on Aug. 26 covering the waters between Pelangi and Matahari Islands.

The fun regatta serves as an intermezzo for this year's Asian yachting series, which started with a sail from Darwin to Ambon (July 15 to July 20); followed by the Arung Samudera from Aug. 7 to Aug. 20; Malaysia's Raja Muda International Regatta from Nov. 18 to Nov. 26; Phuket King's Cup Regatta in Thailand from Dec. 3 to Dec. 8; and Singapore's Straits Regatta from Jan. 10 to Jan. 14 next year. (arf)