10 ships arrive late for Sail Morotai
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara | Archipelago | Tue, August 07 2012, 4:08 PM
Ten Australian ships participating in the 2012 Sail Morotai sailing rally finally reached Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Monday afternoon after being hindered by bad weather in the Timor Sea for 10 days.
Bonafasius Rumat, an official with the NTT Tourism Agency, said Tuesday that high tidal waves had slowed down the ships’ speed. “The ships started the voyage at Cullen Bay in Darwin, Australia, on July 28. It took them so long to arrive in Kupang due to the unfriendly waves and weather,” he said.
According to Bonafasius, the ships are scheduled to visit 13 destinations during their stop in Kupang, including Alor Island. The participants will spend around 35 days before continuing their sail to Morotai, North Maluku.
At the end of this month, the Sail Morotai participants, comprised of 450 people sailing on 83 ships, will gather at the last spot at Komodo National Park on Komodo Island.
This year’s Sail Morotai participants come from various countries, including Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. The international sailing rally was first launched 12 years ago. (lfr)
