Sandeq Boat Race, a less-publicized regatta

Sandeq Boat Race, a less-publicized regatta

Fabio Scarpello, Contributor, Makassar, South Sulawesi

Initially it was meant as a medium to promote a community
development project for South Sulawesi fishermen, but the annual
Sandeq Boat Race has slowly turned into a sporting event and
cultural attraction.

The first Majene-Makassar blue-water race was held in 1995 as
part of a community development project initiated by The Coastal
Societies Research and Development Project (P3MP) of Hasanuddin
University in Makassar.

This year's race, despite financial trouble in the beginning,
attracted the attention of local people who warmly welcome race
participants along the route.

A cool crowd reaction was only witnessed in Majene regency and
Makassar mayoralty, which are the starting and finishing points
for the race, respectively. While the intermediate stops in
Polewali Mamasa, Pinrang, Pare-pare and Barru regencies lived up
to the extravagant expectations in providing a welcoming and
friendly environment for boat crews, supporters and tourists
alike.

Such a warm welcome was apparently not a surprising phenomenon
for the Mandar people -- an ethnic group of about 1,500,000
living in South Sulawesi within the Polewali Mamasa, Majene and
Mamuju regencies -- for whom participation and active support in
the race is a matter of pride for all the villages.

Every family in the villages rallied in accommodating
visitors, with food and drinks offered with a smile.
Entertainment was provided in the form of local music and group
games, in a merry and festive atmosphere.

And every boat arrival saw the same cycle of emotions in the
supporters' faces: the initial anxious look turning into smiles
and eventually sheer exhilaration as soon as the color of the
flag of their respective villages appeared. Hauling the boat to
the pier was always accompanied by cheers and hugs and, at times,
tears of joy, while food and drinks were immediately supplied to
the exhausted sailors.

The boats themselves have not changed from their century-old
original design. The peculiar long and thin shape of the boats
gave them their name, which translates as "pointed".

The boats range in length from five meters to 15 meters, while
the narrow hulls and huge sails are the secret of their speed:
reaching 25 knots (about 50 kilometers/hour) with favorable winds
is the norm.

Sailing a Sandeq boat is very much a team effort, with six to
eight people working together. From the skipper to the most
junior sailor, everyone's contribution is essential in reaching
the right balance and in exploiting the full potential of
Sulawesi's winds. Skill, strength and courage are essential
requisites to take part in what has been called the world's
longest and toughest boat's race.

The Sandeq Traditional Boat Race 2002 started in Majene on
Aug. 11 and ended at Losari Beach in Makassar on Aug. 16.

After six days of racing, which was divided into four stages
and two triangular courses, the Sempati with skipper Hasan Pua
Saria won the race.

The Sempati, sponsored by the Majene regency administration,
won the race after being penalized the least with just seven
penalties, winning the second stage from Polewali Mamasa to Ujung
Lero and finishing second three other times.

The favorite, the Masya Allah, which was sponsored by South
Sulawesi Governor Zainal Basri Palaguna, finished second after
suffering 14 penalties and winning the first stage from Majene to
Polewali Mamasa and securing fourth and fifth place in the other
three stages.

Finishing joint third was the Arawungan Ratu and the Lincah,
both of which suffered 16 penalties.