Indonesia to compete in HK-Osaka race
Indonesia to compete in HK-Osaka race
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is to be one of the 14 participating
nations in the Hong Kong-Osaka International Yachting Race in
March next year, an organizer said.
The countries provisionally set to compete in International
Sail Osaka 97 are China, Japan, Britain, Mexico, Poland,
Indonesia, Russia, the Netherlands, U.S.A., New Zealand, Denmark,
Australia, France and Italy.
Some 55 large size yachts measuring 12 meters to 110 meters
long have registered for the race.
Sail Osaka 97 will start from Hong Kong on March 28 and end in
Osaka in early May. The designated route takes the participants
to Okinawa and Kagoshima.
Raymond Kotambunan, secretary-general of the Indonesian
Yachting Association said the Osaka 97 yachting race was being
held to commemorate Osaka's 100th anniversary.
"We have received an invitation from the organizing committee
in Osaka and will definitely take part in the tournament. We will
send our yachts," Raymond said.
Raymond said Indonesia will be represented by three yachts, A
Room With a View and Arung Samudra I and the navy's sailboat Dewa
Ruci.
"A Room With a View won the 1995 Arung Samudra race and is
presently docked at Pantai Marina Ancol. Arung Samudra I and Dewa
Ruci are participating in an around-the-world race," Raymond
said.
During the race, Hong Kong will hold a special event, the so-
called Hong Kong Tall Ships Spectacular. Held from March 23 to
March 28, the event is sponsored by the Hong Kong City Hall in
cooperation with the navy, Hong Kong Tourist Association and Hong
Kong Yachting Association.
Some of the programs included in the Hong Kong Tall Ships
Spectacular are an exhibition of historic ships and the
opportunity for the Hong Kong people to see the yachts
participating in the race.
"The highlight of the Hong Kong event is a carnival of yachts
on March 28. Several games and a demonstration of water skiing as
well as equipment will be shown to the people in Hong Kong," the
Hong Kong organizer said. (lnt)