Students to join Atlantic Challenge

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Eighteen students -- all from the Surabaya Technology Institute (ITA) -- will set out for the Atlantic Challenge in the United States, with a mission geared more toward the spirit of friendship rather than competition.

It sounds like a competition to cross the Atlantic Ocean, as a participant, at Tuesday's press conference at the Kartika Chandra Hotel, admitted that he mistakenly perceived it to be.

"The Atlantic Challenge features the boats, taking the prototype of those used by France in its attempt to sail across Britain's sea in 1796," Muhammad Habibie, one of the team members, said.

When held for the first time in New York in 1986, the Atlantic Challenge saw only participants from France and the United States.

The number of participating countries has since been growing and the upcoming race, which will take place in Rockland, Maine, will see 10 countries with 17 boats.

Habibie said that the competition, which is scheduled for July 11 to July 17, would incorporate nine tests of seamanship, including the rowing race, sailing race, oar and sail race, man overboard, slalom, jackstay transfer, captains gig, navigation and knots and splices.

The two latter events are carried out on land. The competition will cover a total of 20 kilometers.

"The spirit of the race is not about competition but international friendship. To become the fastest participants is not the goal of this race. What we should show is team cooperation and leadership," Habibie said. He was accompanied by another two members of the team, Anjar Ciptandini and Mangoloi M. Siallagan.

Anjar said that among the team members for each participating country, six must be under 21 years of age.

The uniqueness of the competition is that the participants have to design and build their own boats, but with common specifications.

As for the students, they said they had finalized 95 percent of the layout of their boat, which is 11.76 meters in length.

The boat will be launched in Surabaya, East Java, on May 21 before it is shipped over on June 5.