Golden trophy for sailing race winner
JAKARTA (JP): The organizers of the Arung Samudra 1995 international sailing race are offering a golden trophy for the winner.
The 40 centimeter high trophy, in the shape of a sailor, will be awarded in the tallship category in the Arung Samudra 1995 race between Benoa in Bali and Tanjung Priok in Jakarta this August, the race's manager Commodore Yoewarsono told reporters yesterday.
Yoewarsono said the tallship race itself involves several categories determined by the length and type of vessel used.
The race is one of the highlights of this year's 50th Independence anniversary celebration. Another is the parade of warships scheduled for Tanjung Priok harbor on Aug. 19.
Yoewarsono said a total of 124 vessels, ranging from sailing boats to warships, have been registered for the race and the parade.
Trophies also await the winners of the various categories in the yacht race.
The organizers have invited internationally recognized judges to judge the races which will be run in accordance with the rules of the Sail Tallship Training Association and the International Yachting Race Union.
The yacht race, which will cover 630 nautical miles, will be launched on Aug. 7. The tallship race, covering 480 miles, will be on the following day.
Chile is sending the longest tallship, at 110 meters. Other foreign participants come from Australia, Chile, Italy, the United States, Japan, Russia, France and a number of other countries.
The Navy's chief spokesman, Lt. Col. Eddy Irawan, earlier said that 70 warships from 18 countries will take part in the fleet parade on Aug. 19.
Among the foreign countries that will send big warships are Australia, the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, China and the Netherlands.
Australia has already registered the participation of HMAS Darwin, HMAS Torrens, HMAS Wallongung and HMAS Whyalla, the United States USS Mobile Bay and USS Rodney M. Davis from the Pacific Fleet, Britain HMS Sheffield and HMS Brambeleaf and the Netherlands will send HrMS Van Nes and HrMS Van Galen.
The organizers currently are busy preparing accommodations for the 15,000 crew members of the warships and the sailing vessels who will all congregate in Jakarta on Independence Day, Aug. 17.
The "Marine Village" is now being built near Tanjung Priok harbor, according to Navy Col. Soekapdjioto, head of the exhibition and souvenir section of the organizing committee.
He said the village, equipped with business and communication facilities, is expected to be busy around the clock.
There will also be competitions for the sailors during their stay in the village, he added. (rms/emb)