"Convergence" wins Sail Banda 2010

The yacht "Convergence" skippered by Randolph Kent Repass of the US, has been declared the champion of the international marine event Sail Banda 2010.

Randolph was therefore on Tuesday night presented with the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister`s trophy by Maluku Vice Governor Said Assagaff at a ceremony held at Tantui Nusantara Fish Port as the mooring location of the yachts participating in Sail Banda.

Convergence, a multi-hull yacht from the US, was the first to arrive at Banda Island on Monday, July 26, 2010 at 4.45 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Standard Time (WIT) after being flagged off at Darwin`s Cullen Bay, Australia, on July 24.

The second yacht to arrive in Banda was "Pegasus" of England, skippered by Jason Charles Lawrence, who was eligible to receive the Maluku Governor`s trophy.

While "First Light III" of Australia, skippered by Bernard John McGoldrick, came in third as it arrived in Banda at 8 on Tuesday morning, July 27. Bernard received the Sail Banda Committee`s trophy.

The first three yachts were followed by six others, namely "Catspaw" of England which was skippered by Peter Richard Whitby, "Magnetic" of New Zealand by Trevor Clifford Clark, "Erica" of New Zealand by Erick Frederik Gray, "Umbra Luna" of Australia by Dale Lynn Clemons, and "Miranda I" of Australia by Goyffrey Philip Rawlins Birch.

Assagaff, who is concurrently Sail Banda local committee chairman, said that as of Tuesday night, 24 yachts participating in Sail Banda 2010 had arrived in Ambon to participate in the welcoming ceremony but the rest had yet to arrive.

"It must be weather conditions that are hampering the rest of the yachts on their way here but hopefully they can arrive here before August 7, 2010," Assagaff said.

Sail Banda 2010, organized by the central government in cooperation with Maluku provincial administration, is participated in by 49 yachts from five countries.