Navy cadets sail to Australia

SURABAYA, East Java: Eighty cadets of the Navy Academy (AAL) were farewelled by AAL Governor Maj. Gen. Sudarsono Kasdi for a sailing trip to Australia aboard the K.M. Dewa Ruci training ship in a program called "Kartika Jala Krida 1998" in a ceremony here Sunday.

The program, led by Lt. Col. Bambang Harjanto, will last for three months and cover 9,408 nautical miles.

"The program will be good practice. The cadets will have valuable experience during the trip, by braving bad weather and difficult situations," Kasdi said.

The Dewa Ruci will also participate in the international tall ship race, the Sydney to Hobart Race 1998. It will join K.M. Arung Samudera, another training tall ship belonging to the Indonesian Navy, in the championship. (swe)