Jakarta, Indonesia - The much awaited international marine event of Sail Banda has kicked off as scheduled.
At 11 am Darwin Time on Saturday, July 24, 2010, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono at Darwin`s Cullen Bay flagged off 49 of 106 foreign yachts to mark the start of Sail Banda 2010.
Laksono flagged off the yachts participating in Sail Banda, in the presence of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad, Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu, and the Darwin mayor.
Speaking over her cell phone from Darwin, Maluku Culture and Tourism Office spokesperson Florence Sahusilawane said the yachts, which have set sail from Darwin, were scheduled to reach Banda Neira on July 27, 2010.
"That is why the Sail Indonesia this year is also called Sail Banda 2010 and Maluku has been entrusted to host this international marine event," Sahusilawane said.
All the yachts participating in Sail Indonesia had departed from Darwin and during the following three months they will participate in a series of cultural festivals at different stopovers in Indonesia, namely the islands of Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flores, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Borneo, Belitung and finally on to Batam or Bintan just south of Singapore.
Sail Banda local committee spokesman Cak Saima said here on Saturday that arriving at Banda islands on July 27, the participant of such an international marine event would be served with various tourism objects and cultural attractions there.
"Various marine tourism objects at the islands of Un, Ai, Gunung Api, and Pisang in Banda are awaiting Sail Banda participants to visit, Saimima said.
He added that they could also visit many interesting and amazing places in Banda such as Sea Garden, Belgica Fort, House of Bung Hatta, House of Iwa Kusuma Sumantri, Agro Tourism, besides visiting the scenic islands of Un, Ai, Gunung Api, and Pisang.
While in Banda they will also be entertained with Welcome Party, Kora-Kora Attraction, Archeology Exhibition, City Tour, Marine & Agro Tourism, Cultural and Art Night at Belgica Fort.
Fort Belgica, one of many forts built by the Dutch East India Company, is located in the Banda Islands, Maluku Province, and is one of the largest remaining European forts in Indonesia.
Constructed in 1611, the fort was an important defensive structure commanding over the bay of Bandanaira.
Its construction gave the Dutch an edge over other colonial powers in the area, and still remains the largest extant structure on the Banda Islands.
Besides Fort Belgica, there is also Forth Nassau, often referred to as the "Beneden Kasteel" which was built in the early years of the Dutch settlement in the Banda Islands.
Admiral Verhoeven built this fort in 1607-1609 on the remains of a Portuguese fort built a century earlier.
Verhoeven never saw the completion of this fort, because he was killed in an ambush by local Bandanese freedom fighters in 1609.
Seemingly insignificant in the middle of nowhere in the Banda Sea, the Banda Islands are steeped in history and blessed with some of the finest dive sites waiting the international participants of Sail Banda 2010.
Central to the spice trade of old, and former home of exiled freedom fighters, the Banda Islands are now enjoying a growing reputation for what goes on below the surface.
Located about 132 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital of Ambon, Banda Islands are made up of three larger islands and seven smaller ones perched on the rim of Indonesia`s deepest sea, the Banda Sea.
Of the three biggest islands, Banda, Banda Neira, and Gunung Api, the first two are covered with nutmeg treees and other vegetation, while the third is entirely bare and highly volcanic.
The seas around Banda Islands are the site of the famous Maluku sea gardens with their bright coral and colorful fish darting through the crystal-clear waters and make it an ideal place for diving, snorkeling, or just sightseeing.
Banda offers a lot of dive sites such as Sonegat between Banda Neira and Gunung Api Island, just offshore from a little seaside house owned by he Banda`s most famous son, Des Alwi.
Foreign tourists who have gone diving in Banda ever commented that some of the creatures worthy of special mention that characterize diving in the Banda Sea were the preponderance of dogtooth tuna and mobula rays.
According to them, diving was usually comfortable when the seas had mild currents, good visibility and calm waters, but some of the dive sites were subject to stronger currents that make them suitable for experienced divers only.
Looking down over the wall from the shallows, one can watch he most impressive of fish displays. Masking the deep blue water, ribbons of redtooth triggers swim above waves of rainbow runners who mingle with masses of lined snappers.
The mystic of these far flung but historically important islands of Banda will always captivate both domestic and foreign tourists, especially Sail Banda participants and guests.
Minister Agung Laksono said Sail Banda would last until August 8, 2010 while its peak event would be organized on August 3 and attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Meanwhile, Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said that as host, he would make every possible effort to ensure order and security, and the avilability of infrastructure facilities to make the international marine event a success. (*)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com
