Indonesia -- a seafaring nation

Indonesia -- a seafaring nation

Arung Samudera 95: Sail Indonesia & International Fleet Review
Indonesian Navy Headquarters
PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 1995
233 pp

JAKARTA (JP): The history of Indonesia is rich in nautical
events. Sea tales were spun in ancient verse, leaving little
doubt of the country's sea-faring background. The sea is the
major attraction for foreign tourists who visit this archipelagic
country of over 17,000 islands.

It may come as a surprise to learn also that Indonesia's
maritime development can be traced as far back as the stone age
if the cave paintings of pre-historic times discovered in South
Sulawesi are anything to go by. We also have the stone reliefs on
the walls of the 8th century Borobudur temple in Central Java,
depicting tall ships.

In Arung Samudera '95: Sail Indonesia & International Fleet
Review, the Borobudur ocean scenes are seen to feature three
types of vessels: round canoes, giant tall ships, and huge
outriggers. The largest among them had two masts, with helm and
stern slanted up. The masts, angled forward, strongly resemble
Arabian sailboats. In ancient times the mainsails were square and
the stern had to make do with a triangular jib mast.

The country's maritime history is documented also in Chinese
tales praising the exotic wares brought by Indonesian ships to
southern China. It is said also that Indonesian products were
well-known in Roman and Greek times.

The size of these ancient boats suggest that they were built
to withstand rough treatment. Foreign writers like Adrian
Horridge, who has researched Indonesian boats extensively, came
to the conclusion that "the Borobudur ships were fighting ships."

In connection with the country's 50th anniversary last year,
the Indonesian Navy held Arung Samudera '95, the country's first
global event featuring tall ships from several sea-faring
countries. It was a huge success. Assembled were 19 tall ships
and 112 yachts from 21 countries, and 41 warships from various
countries, together with 39 Indonesian warships.

The event saw two major events: Sail Indonesia and Fleet
Review. In the first, Sail Indonesia, tall ships and yachts were
raced from Benoa in Bali, to Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, while in
Fleet Review, warships from friendly countries and the host
country were on display.

Besides commemorating a historical event, Arung Samudera '95
was held to boost the seafaring spirit of the Indonesian people,
to keep an age-old tradition alive.

It is a pity that this event could not be attended by every
Indonesian citizen. This book, officially launched lst month,
tries to right this wrong.

This is not a boring, technical book. It tells of the rich
nautical history of Indonesia, a fascinating story.

Readers are given the opportunity to zoom in on every aspect
of the international race, and see the action at close quarters
in photographs.

Is it any wonder that Indonesia is actively promoting package
sea tours? This book shows why, and reminds us also that our
forefathers were an invincible breed who genuinely loved the sea.

-- Ariobimo Nusantara