Investigators look into role of sea foam in surfer deaths

DutchNews, May 13, 2020 

Friends and family of the dead surfers have been placing flowers on the beach.
Photo: Robin Utrecht HH

Dutch sea research institute NIOZ is investigating the possible role of a thick layer of sea foam in the death of five surfers off the coast of Scheveningen on Monday evening. 

Several experts have suggested the surfers may have become disorientated in the foam, which according to some eyewitnesses was over two metres high as it approached the harbour wall. 

Sea foam is formed when sea water has a high concentration of dissolved organic matter from algal blooms and is whipped up by the wind. 

‘There was a lot of foam and this may be due to the large quantity of algae,’ researcher Katja Philippart told broadcaster NOS. ‘This might be due to the good weather of recent days, combined with the strong winds.’ 

However, Philippart told NOS she is not aware of any cases in which people have been suffocated by sea foam. 

One body has not yet been recovered and the search resumed on Wednesday morning. Two other bodies were found earlier on Tuesday morning and two others died after being pulled from the sea on Monday evening. Three of the men who died came from The Hague, the other two from Delft. 

The Hague mayor Johan Remkes told reporters at a press conference that a thorough investigation into what happened would now take place. ‘How can it be that people with so much experience and who knew this place so well came to die,’ Remkes said. 

In total, 10 people are thought to have been in the water at the time, a group of six, a group of three and one single surfer. 

Community 

Friends and family of the dead have been flocking to the location where the five men died, to leave flowers and comfort one another. The deaths have caused shock throughout the Netherlands’ surfing scene. 

‘These were very experienced surfers and swimmers, with a great love for the sea and their sport,’ the Holland Surfing Association said. ‘They were caught up in extraordinary circumstances and lost their lives in such a tragic way.’

British man first to row non-stop across Pacific Ocean

British adventurer John Beeden has become the first person to row solo and non-stop across the Pacific Ocean, landing in northern Australia on December 27. He previously rowed across the Atlantic in 2011.

Deutsche Welle, 27 December 2015

The 53-year-old embarked on his journey from San Francisco on June 1 in his six-meter (20-foot) boat named Socks II, and landing in Cairns, Australia, on December 27. During the 7,400-nautical-mile journey he averaged 15 hours rowing for 209 days.

Thank you Cairns for the brilliant reception, I was overwhelmed, it made the last 209 days worth while. Wow it's over! #solopacificrow

— John Beeden (@solopacificrow) December 27, 2015

"To be the first person to achieve something like this on this scale is incredible really, and I haven't processed it yet," Beeden told Australian national broadcaster ABC.

His wife Cheryl and two teenage daughters greeted him at the dock in Cairns when he pulled in escorted by a string of local vessels.

4 miles to go! Just met up with family for the last little bit #solopacificrow #cairns #australia pic.twitter.com/OPddfN0bOb

— John Beeden (@solopacificrow) December 26, 2015

Pacific 'much harder' than Atlantic

Beeden missed his planned date of arrival by about a month because of weather conditions slowing him down. He repeatedly tweeted that the journey was proving far more difficult than he had thought.

Trying 2 recover lost milage, going for it, looking 4 the magical #50nm 2day. #OceanRowing #SanFranto #Australia pic.twitter.com/JbB5Hbj5KC

— John Beeden (@solopacificrow) October 8, 2015

A seasoned rower, Beeden had already rowed 2,600 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean solo in 53 days in 2011, but said that the Pacific was much harder to tackle.

I'm exhausted, heat & humidity horrible 2day. Have received some brilliant messages of support which will help get me to the finish line.

— John Beeden (@solopacificrow) December 25, 2015

Along his way, Beeden was met by a series of support boats as he passed islands and was given supplies. After seven months on his own at sea Beeden said he found it "strange" to be back among people and noise. For some of his time out on the Pacific, the nearest human beings were the crew of the space station 250 kilometers (150 miles) above him.

"It's strange, but it's good to be back, but it was kind of good to be out there as well," Beeden said.

Rower lost at sea during previous attempt in 1996

In 1983, British rower Peter Bird almost made the solo row from San Francisco to Australia, but was rescued near the Barrier Reef just 33 miles from the mainland by the Australian navy, after 294 days at sea.

Bird made several more attempts but was lost at sea in 1996.

ss/bk (dpa)

Dead fish in Rio Olympic bay baffle scientists

Yahoo – AFP, Claire de Oliveira Neto, 8 Nov 2014

Thousands of dead fish have begun mysteriously washing up in the polluted Rio

 bay that will host sailing events at the 2016 Olympics -- and experts are at a

loss to explain why (AFP Photo/Yasuyoshi Chiba)

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Thousands of dead fish have begun mysteriously washing up in the polluted Rio bay that will host sailing events at the 2016 Olympics -- and experts are at a loss to explain why.

Guanabara Bay has already been the subject of concern amongst sailors who are to compete in Rio because of the human sewage that gets pumped into its waters.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed confidence that Guanabara will be fit for purpose by the time of the games.

A fisherman weighs fish in Paqueta Island,

 located at Guanabara bay in Rio de

 Janeiro, Brazil, on November 5, 2014

(AFP Photo/Yasuyoshi Chiba)

But the recent appearance of thousands of dead fish, and the foul stench of their rotting carcasses, has attracted further scrutiny with the Olympics less than two years away.

Scientists are baffled by the phenomenon but say there is no evidence so far to suggest pollution is the cause.

The foul odor first took over the usually peaceful Paqueta Island, where cars are banned and the population of 4,500 people travels on horseback or bicycle among the only baobab trees in Brazil.

With the help of a bulldozer, a municipal company has removed 20 tonnes of dead sabalo fish -- from the Clupeidae family of herrings and sardines -- as well as four dead sea turtles.

"Tests showed that this is not a matter of chemical or toxic water pollution," Rio do Janeiro State University oceanographer David Zee told AFP.

Leandro Daemon of the National Institute for the Environment, or INEA, agreed that water testing had not identified any toxic chemicals or any unusual change in the water's pH (potential of hydrogen), salinity or oxygen.

"We have no answer yet about what happened, but we can certainly exclude the hypothesis of a chemical pollution killing the fish," he said.

'Don't go in'

But not everyone is so sure.

Worried fishermen and islanders are pointing the finger at the petrochemical activities of state giant Petrobras.

"We want to know why so many fish have died. The rotten smell is horrible and there are many flies on the island. The authorities tell us nothing," said Vilma Leocadio of the Paqueta citizens' association.

"We are afraid, we do not bathe in the sea any more and do not buy fish here."

Rosimere Figueiredo, 52, said Paqueta was in distress.

"I do not encourage you to step in the water with all those dead bodies of fish. We see them dying," she said.

Five of the fish were sent Tuesday to the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro's biology department for analysis, and the results will be announced in a week.

Experts want to know if there are any signs of pollution or disease in the entrails or gills.

High temperatures to blame?

One hypothesis is that the culprit is predatory fishing.

At this time of year, fishing is prohibited, but it is common for fishermen to still work, catching fish like sabalo that have a lower market value, Zee said.

But the expert said the likeliest scenario was that the deaths are caused by "thermal pollution" of the water.

Worried fishermen and islanders are

 pointing the finger at the petrochemical

 activities of state giant Petrobras (AFP

Photo/Yasuyoshi Chiba)

"Sabalo are very sensitive to any lack of oxygen. Warm water temperatures such as those recorded several days ago -- ranging from 27 to 30 degrees Celsius (81 to 86 Fahrenheit) -- in shallow water decrease the solubility of oxygen," Zee said.

He noted that Paqueta is located at the bottom of the Rio bay, where water circulation and exchange is more difficult, a phenomenon exacerbated by the low tide.

"What is striking is the duration of this mortality and also the high temperature of the water," said biologist Mario Moscatelli, who has studied the bay's waters for 20 years.

"I flew over the area in early October, and fish were floating. At first, we thought they were thrown into the sea by fishermen. But before too long, I saw them dying in a way that seemed they were missing oxygen."

He said the sabalo, being more sensitive, are the first fish to die in the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, which contains sea water carried through a canal in Rio's southern zone.

"But in case of chemical contamination, other species will die," he said. "We have more questions than answers. We must wait for the results of the analysis."

Surfer survives shark attack in Japan

Yahoo – AFP, 10 June 2014

Map of Japan locating Aichi, where a man was seriously injured after being

attacked by a shark while surfing.

AFP/AFP - Map of Japan locating Aichi, where a man was seriously injured after being attacked by a shark while surfing

A 43-year-old man has been seriously injured after being attacked by a shark while surfing off central Japan, officials said Tuesday, warning local beachgoers to be alert.

Tsuyoshi Takahashi, an off-duty life guard, was rushed to hospital on Sunday afternoon after the shark sank its teeth into his left arm some 30 metres (100 feet) offshore, a fire department official said.

The accident occurred while Takahashi was surfing with his colleagues in the Pacific off the Atsumi peninsula in Aichi, some 250 kilometre (155 miles) west of Tokyo, a spot well-known for its big waves.

"He was seriously injured and got 30 stitches to the wound, but there is no threat to his life," said the official, adding: "We are calling on other surfers to be on the alert against sharks."

Japan's long coastline is home to a variety of sharks, but attacks on people are relatively rare. The species of shark involved on Sunday was not known.

According to the local government, the weekend incident was the first shark attack in the prefecture since 1995 when a fisherman was killed by a great white.

Hawaiian surfer breaks wave-riding record

BBC News, 11 May 2012

A 44-year-old Hawaiian surfer has entered the Guinness Book of Records for riding the biggest wave ever thought to have been ridden.

Last November Garrett McNamara caught a 78ft wave off the coast of Portugal, beating the previous 2008 record by more than a foot.

McNamara began surfing at age 11 and became professional six years later.

He has described his achievement as a stroke of luck and has used his feat to urge people to follow their passions.

The giant wave was located above an underwater canyon famous for being the world's biggest wave generator.

McNamara has said that on the day he broke the record, he at first had not wanted to take a ride but his friends urged him to catch a few waves.

"Everything came together. Everything felt right", he said.

Close scrutiny

Hundreds of thousands have viewed the video and photographs of McNamara's ride. They show his figure dwarfed by a giant wall of water.

"I knew it was big, but I didn't know how big," he said.

He later sent the footage and pictures to surfing expert Sean Collins, who guessed the wave was 85-90ft tall. Collins died in December.

Last week, McNamara was awarded $15,000 (11,600 euros) for the ride at the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards in California.

Judges for the awards examined the footage and pictures from different angles.

They also compared McNamara's height in a crouch and the length of his shin bone with the wave's top and bottom before reaching a verdict, event director Bill Sharp told the Associated Press.

Commenting on the record, McNamara said: "The world would be a much better place if everyone was doing what they wanted to do".

However, the UK Guardian newspaper quoted him as saying: "I'm not sure I want to ride that peak again".

Related Article:

Teenage globe sailor takes down Dutch flag

RNW, 11 January 2012

Photo: Laura Dekker, Hvyes

Solo yachtswoman Laura Dekker has taken down the Dutch flag from her sailing boat and replaced it with a New Zealand one, in response to renewed efforts from Dutch school attendance authorities to force her to continue with her education.

Authorities claim 16-year-old Laura has been doing too little school work. When her father refused to make an appointment to discuss the issue, attendance officers announced they intended to complain to the Dutch council for child welfare.

Laura – who aims to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the world single-handed - is currently crossing the Atlantic Ocean, headed for the Dutch Caribbean island of Sint Maarten where she will complete her journey in her boat, Guppy. It is expected that she will arrive within two weeks provided there are no setbacks.

Battle to sail with authorities

In 2009, when Laura first announced her plans to circumnavigate the globe, Dutch authorities intervened and insisted she should first finish school. The child welfare authorities brought the case to court and a judge ruled that the 13-year-old was too young to travel alone. Laura then ran away and took a plane to St Maarten, where she was arrested and sent back to the Netherlands.

In July 2010, a judge gave her permission to carry out her plans - provided she agreed to a number of conditions, including continuing her secondary-school education through an online teaching programme set up for Dutch-speaking children abroad.

Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant reports her lawyer, Peter de Lange, “is furious about the latest action of the school attendance enforcement officers.” Laura has had enough of Dutch authorities, he says. “She was almost put into care. And now this.”

A Dutch court had ordered authorities to take temporary guardianship of Laura when she was 13, while her case was being assesed by psychologists.

Turns back on Dutch citizenship

Officially, Laura does not have to comply with Dutch regulations concerning her education, as she is no longer registered as a Dutch citizen. She holds New Zealand citizenship because she was born on a boat there while her parents were sailing around the world.

De Volkskrant says the World School, which organises the education by correspondence, is afraid a precedent will be set if they don’t intervene. “Laura is contending with an 80-year school attendance battle. Compulsory school attendance is sacred in the Netherlands.”

Related Article:

Dutch court gives teenage sailor go-ahead

www.lauradekker.nl

Indonesian fishermen find body of American surfer

The Jakarta Post, Associated Press, Jakarta | Fri, 07/29/2011

Washed ashore: This May 2008 file photo provided by family friend Maurice
 Mitchell shows Daniel Bobis on his wedding day in Point Lookout, N.Y. Bobis,
 32, a math teacher and coach at Long Beach High School in New York,
 disappeared during an apparent surfing accident off the coast of western
 Indonesia on July 24, 2011. Local fishermen say they found his body about 20 miles
 (30 kilometers) from where he's last been seen.  (AP/courtesy of Maurice Mitchell,
Allison Caviness)

Local fishermen Thursday found the body of an American surfer who went missing last weekend in waters off western Indonesia.

Daniel Bobis apparently hit another surfer's board after emerging from the barrel of a powerful, 10-foot (3-meter) wave. His leash broke and his board washed to shore. A member of the search and rescue team said Bobis' body was found about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from where he'd last been seen.

Bobis, 32, was a math teacher and coach at Long Beach High School in New York. He had been vacationing with his wife, Rachel, on Sumatra island. She did not wish to comment.

Friends in Long Beach, a seaside community on Long Island, said Bobis had seemingly boundless energy. He played drums in a band, taught karate and was an environmental activist. At the school, he started a competitive surf team and was head coach.

"Everybody's mourning," said Teresa Greifenberger, 53, whose son Jonathan is on the surf team.

School staff members were calling bereaved students to let them know counselors were available, she said. Some of the surfers were planning to paddle into the surf Thursday evening and observe a moment of silence, she added.

Sean Pearsall, 32, called Bobis a close friend. He said the news was devastating but there was a measure of relief that his body was found.

"He was such a staple in the community," he said. "There were just so many people whose lives he touched. He did more in 32 years than most people do in 80. He definitely lived his life to the fullest and that's how he was every day."

His friends are planning a benefit for the family in September. Pearsall said they already had an overwhelming response from individuals and businesses eager to donate items for a raffle.

"He knew the power of the ocean," Pearsall said, adding that Bobis was an extremely experienced surfer and swimmer.

"It just goes to show you that Mother Nature calls the shots, unfortunately."

Seventeen yachts competing to reach finish line in Ambon

Antara News, Tue, July 26 2011

Ambon (ANTARA News) - Seventeen yachts in their international race from Darwin (North Australia) to Ambon, Maluku province are competing to reach the finish line in the coast of Amahusu village, Nusaniwe sub-district, Ambon.

"The participants are competing making use of the strong wind to reach the finish line in the Amahusu village coast," coordinator of the Darwin-Ambon Yacht Race & Rally 2011 Hellen de Lima told ANTARA on Monday.

He said the monitoring committee disclosed that the sail boat Fantasia with skipper Andrew Stransky was leading the race.

Since the flag off at Darwin port, Fantasia from Brisbane, Australia, managed to lead the race.

Since entering the Indonesian waters, Fantasia of the Racing Multihull category made use of the wind velocity of 13.45 knots per hour.

But since passing the waters between Babar Island and Romang Island, Southeast Maluku regency, Fantasia sailed with a wind velocity of only 10.52 knots per hour.

Another participant Walk On The Wild Side with skipper Garth Curran and Australian Maid (John Wardil) are second and third.

Walk On The Wild Side moved with the wind blowing at a velocity of 9.20 knots per hour, while Australian Maid 9.51 knots per hour.

The two sail boats were known to win various international yacht races, the last before the Darwin-Ambon Yacht Race & Rally 2011, the two won Visit Indonesia Fremantle-Bali International Yacht Race 2011.

In the meantime, Freedom Express with skipper Ross McCombe, the third as Racing Multihull category in the Darwin-Ambon Yacht Race & Rally 2010, was fourth of the total of 17 participants in the event.

Freedom Express sailed with the wind blowing at a velocity of 9.40 knots per hour, followed by Sue Sea (Brian Todd) 9.29 knots per hour.

Game Set (John Mulkearns) was trailing with the wind blowing at a velocity of 8.49 knots per hour, followed by Even Karma (John Hard) 8.44 knots per hour.

"Most of the participants have entered Southwest Maluku regency waters and the Banda Sea, where some of the participants may have reached the finish line to night (Tuesday) or Wednesday morning," Hellen said.

The annual event was held to fill this year`s Darwin-Ambon sister city cooperation program followed by 19 participants, in which 18 participants dame from Australia, and the other one from the Netherlands, covering 634 nautical miles, the equivalent of 1,174.68 kilometers.

The flag off of the participants was marked with start sign from on board the HMAS Ararat (89) patrol boat in Darwin port by Ambon Mayor Jopi Papilaja and Darwin Governor Tom Pauling on July 23, 2011.

The yacht race is competing four categories, namely racing monohull (IRC) followed by six yachts, racing monohull cruising (six yachts), racing multihull (five) and rally (two).

The race is to win the cup of the Indonesian Minister of Culture and Tourism, was for the first time held in 1976 in an attempt to establish cooperation between the Darwin and Ambon administrations.

In 2009 the number of participants reached 100 yachts, but was later canceled as Ambon and Maluku were involved in a social conflict, and revived only in 2007.

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono

Twenty-two countries to participate in Sail Indonesia 2011

Antara News, Sat, June 11 2011

Sail Indonesia 2011 which will make Kupang as the entrance to the other regions in Indonesia will focus on areas that have not yet been visited.

Sail Indonesia
(ANTARA/istimewa)

Kupang, E.Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - As many as 22 countries have confirmed their plans to participate in Sail Indonesia 2011 that was officially launched in Jakarta a few days ago, a local marine official said.

The number of participants has increased compared to Sail Indonesia 2010 when only 15 countries took part, the chairman of Cinta Bahari Indonesia Foundation (YCBI), Raymond T. Lesmana, said here Saturday.

"There are more participants for Sail Indonesia 2011 than last year. If in 2010 there were only 15 countries, now the number has increased to 22," he said.

According to Raymond, the Sail Indonesia participants were scheduled to depart from Darwin, Australia, on July 23 and expected to arrive in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara`s provincial capital, on July 27 to 28.

The participants will be in Kupang for a week before they sail on to Alor, Rote Ndao, Sabu Raijua, Lembata, Ende and Labuan Bajo districts on Flores Island and elsewhere in Indonesia.

"We expect the participants will be in East Nusa Tenggara province about a month because there are a number of such new areas to be visited by the participants as Sabu Raijua and Rote Ndao," Raymond said.

He said, the foundation is coordinating with several district administrations, especially the new area ones that will be stop off to perform a variety of preparations.

In addition, Sail Indonesia 2011 which will make Kupang as the entrance to the other regions in Indonesia will focus on areas that have not yet been visited.

The regions are Ndao Rote, Sabu Raijua to Sumba island which have been less had the opportunity to stop off by the Sail Indonesia participants.

"In previous years, the transit route is always monotonous namely the northbound lane through the East Flores to West Flores. Now we are trying to open new destinations," Raymond noted.

The new areas to be visited is located on the southern route which has been less a promotion, he added.

Editor: Ella Syafputri

Buleleng welcomes Sail Indonesia yachts

Alit Kartarahardja, The Jakarta Post, Lovina, Buleleng | Wed, 09/22/2010 10:39 AM

More than a hundred yachts from 19 countries are expected to arrive in Buleleng regency on Sept. 22 as one of many port calls for Sail Indonesia 2010.

Buleleng cultural office head Putu Tastra Wijaya told reporters that he had received confirmation from the organizing committee that all 106 yachts participating in the international maritime event would spend four days of their three-month journey, from Sept. 22 to 25, at Lovina Beach.

The annual event was organized by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the Culture and Tourism Ministry, provincial governments and the Cinta Bahari Foundation to promote Indonesia as a maritime country and to showcase the country’s cultural and marine wealth.

Sail Indonesia participants departed from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, on July 24. The yachts stopped to participate at a series of events and cultural festivals at ports throughout Indonesia, including Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flores, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Kalimantan and Belitung. The flotilla will continue from Bali to the voyage’s last stop in Batam, Riau Islands; which is just south of Singapore.

Event organizers added port calls at Rote Ndao in East Sumba, and at Saba and Bau Bau. The sailors are expected to visit 22 provinces and regencies during the voyage.

Wijaya said that Buleleng administration has already prepared to cultural and tourist activities to welcome more than 400 Sail Indonesian 2010 participants.

“This is a valuable promotional activity for Buleleng regency. We will take them to visit several tourist sites in North Bali,” he said.

He added that the arrival of Sail Indonesia 2010 vessels would also benefit the regency’s economy as they would stay at local hotels and spend money on food.

If each participant spends US$50 per day, Buleleng would reap Rp 5 billion ($560,000) during the four-day visit, he said.

Dutch court gives teenage sailor go-ahead

RNW, 27 July 2010 - 3:45pm

Sailor Laura Dekker (Photo: Telegraaf)

A Dutch court has ruled that teenage sailor Laura Dekker is free to go ahead with her attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

"The court rejects the request for the extension of supervision" by the child protection authorities over 14-year-old Laura, judge Suzanne Kuypers said in the Middelburg district court in the south of the Netherlands.

"The supervision of the child is lifted with immediate effect."

The child protection services had asked the court to extend the supervision order for a further 12 months, but the court turned down the request. This means formal responsibility for Laura now returns to her parents, who both support her sailing ambitions.

To set a new record as the youngest person to complete such a round-the-world solo trip, Laura Dekker would need to complete the estimated two-year voyage before she turns 17 on 20 September 2012.

(AFP/RNW)

www.lauradekker.nl

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Marine sports event aims to heal local welfare woes

Dina Indrasafitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 06/12/2010 10:18 AM

The Sail Banda event to be held in Maluku promises hope for future economic development and improved welfare a decade after the province was ravaged by bloody sectarian conflict.

Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said Friday the government would announce his province as the country’s national fishery buffer stock region.

“We pray that on Aug. 3, 2010, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will officially announce Maluku as a national fishery storage area and this plan will revive Maluku province’s maritime and fishery development,” he said in a press conference in Jakarta. Sail Banda is slated to kick off next month and will run until mid-August.

The maritime affairs and fisheries minister said the Sail Banda yacht rally would be preceded by a charity event involving the United States’ hospital ship USNS Mercy.

The USNS Mercy, along with local ship KRI Dr. Suharso SHS-990 and ships from Singapore and Australia, will channel aid, as well as procedures related to maternal and child health to a number of areas, including Banda Island and Seram Island.

During an event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) earlier this year, the Health Ministry cited data from the 2007 basic health research.

It revealed that Maluku ranked second after East Nusa Tenggara in terms of malnutrition.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said the event was marked by its philanthropic support. “What makes [Sail Banda] different from Sail Bunaken, is the abundance of social [charity] events,” he said. Last year, the country hosted the Sail Bunaken marine festival off Manado in North Sulawesi.

Karel said that despite progress made since the post-conflict days, Maluku province was still struggling. “During the riots, our economic development growth rate has been minus 26 percent; nowadays… our economic growth is almost 6 percent,” he said, adding that he hoped the Sail Banda would boost the province’s welfare.

Fadel said that his ministry was planning to lure investors from China, Australia and Japan to boost the province’s fishery activity.

The Sail Banda event will feature a number of activities such as marine sports, mangrove planting and the celebration of the nation’s Independence Day in Kisar Island, one of Indonesia’s outermost islands.

The yacht rally is scheduled to flag off from Darwin, Australia on July 24. Thus far, 106 ships from 16 countries have registered.

Coordinating Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono said the proposed budget for the event was Rp 161 billion.

700 Youths to Gather in Ambon for Maritime Program

Jakarta Globe, May 24, 2010

About 700 youths are meeting in Ambon for the Sail Banda program. (Photo: JG)

Ambon, Maluku. At least 700 youths will gather in the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon in late July to participate in a “Maritime Teenagers Across Archipelago” program.

“Some 700 youths from across the country are expected to arrive here for the ‘Maritime Teenagers Across Archipelago’ program scheduled for late July until August 4, 2010 as part of the international marine event of Sail Banda 2010,” Sail Banda local committee chairman for youth and sports affairs Azis Lattar said on Monday.

He said the teenagers from across the country would come to Ambon to take part in a camping program with local scouts at Telaga Kodok village in Leihitu sub-district, Ambon.

In addition to the camping program, the teenagers would visit a cultural park in Ambon, have discussions with their peers from Maluku, and take part in a mangrove-planting drive along the coast of Ambon’s Inner Bay.

“We are also making arrangements for the youths to have a dialog with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Sail Banda peak event here on August 3, 2010,” Lattar said.

The youths would be transported to Ambon by a number of naval ships, including the KRI Dewaruci and KRI Arung Samudra, which would leave from Sabang, Belawan, Jakarta, Bali, Labuhan Bajo, Ambon and Merauke.

Antara

Surfing Made Awan wins Oakley Pro 2010 at Canggu Beach

The Jakarta Post, Tim Hain, Contributor, Canggu Beach, Bali | Thu, 04/08/2010 11:40 AM

Balinese surfer Made Awan has taken out the first event of this season’s Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour, the Oakley Pro 2010, after defeating Dede Suryana of West Java.

Awan received a Rp 10 million cash prize from Oakley and now sits at number one in the ISC Tour rankings, collecting a whopping 3,000 championship points.

He also received the Coca-Cola Best Maneuver Award for recording the highest wave score of the event, nabbing an extra bonus of Rp 1 million.

Back on the beach, drenched in a combination of Coca-Cola and San Miguel Light courtesy of the sponsors and his friends, Made was ecstatic, “I won. Thank God I won. I’m number one! The waves were so good and I had so much fun out there”.

When he heard he scored a 9 on his final wave, he said he knew he had a chance to beat his opponent Suryana.

“Last year I was up against Awan back at my home break of Cimaja in West Java, and I beat him just near the end of the heat, so I guess we are even now,” Suryana said laughing.

“The next ISC comp is in Sanur, so it will be very interesting because that is almost Awan’s home break. He is surfing really well and is a great competitor, so I’m happy for him that he won. We’ll see what happens next time though!” he added.

Suryana went home with a Rp 5 million cash prize and 2,750 ISC Championship points.

The competition was the fifth and final day of the Oakley Pro 2010, a six star rated Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour sanctioned event, the first of the 2010 Tour season, which took place at Canggu Beach, a few kilometers north of Kuta on Bali’s west coast.

Around 64 of Indonesia’s best pro surfers as well as 11 masters (35 years and older) surfers competed for prestige, prize money and points on some of the best waves in the world.

Prior to the Pro Final, four of Indonesia’s best masters surfers took to the perfect Canggu waves to compete in their final.

Coming back to the beach in first place was Wayan “Ompong” Budayasa, competing in his very first Master’s Division event. He also competed in the Pro Division but failed to advance beyond Round 3.

The next stop on the Coca-Cola ISC Tour will be the Rusty Rumble in Da Jungle at Sanur Beach with a waiting period starting on April 26 and ending on May 16.

Coca-Cola ISC Tour Pro Division

Made Awan (17.25 pts)
Dede Suryana (15.50 pts)
Marlon Gerber, Agus Frimanto

Coca-Cola ISC Tour Masters
Division
Wayan “Ompong” Budayasa
Ketut “Kombong” Juliarta
Made Lapur

Sail Banda to lure thousands of tourists, investors

Antara News, by Bustanuddin, Monday, February 8, 2010 11:07 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The international marine event Sail Banda which will take place in Ambon city, Maluku`s provincial capital in July to August 2010 is expected to attract thousands of foreign tourists.

In efforts to attract around 6,000 tourists to the province, Sail Indonesia featuring the beauty of Maluku Province`s Banda Islands, the local administration would spend at least Rp40 billion to prepare the international event.

The estimated cost was disclosed by Director General of Marine Resources and Fishery Surveillance Aji Sularso at the launching of "Sail Indonesia-Sail Banda" here last Wednesday.

The funds came from Maluku`s provinccial budget and from the marine and fishery ministry and coordinating ministry for social welfare, he said, adding the funds totaling Rp12 billion (US$1=Rp9,420) that the Maluku government had pledged would be used to build the needed facilities.

According to him, the marine and fishery ministry, and the coordinating ministry for social welfare had respectively allocated Rp9.5 billion and more than Rp20 billion to support the various events and social activities involving the local people, and for providing fuel to Indonesian navy`s hospital ship, KRI Dr.Suharso, he said.

Meanwhile Marine and Fishery Minister Fadel Muhammad said Sail Banda was aimed at making Ambon city eastern Indonesia`s main tourist gate and promoting the province`s potentials to the world.

The annual event was also expected to attract foreign investors, including from China, said Muhammad, who is also chairman of the Sail Banda national committee.

"Providing people in the coastal areas with medical services is also the objective of Sail Banda. That`s why, the social welfare minister will come to the targeted areas," he said.

Sharing Muhammad`s views, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said Sail Banda was also expected to boost eastern Indonesia`s economic development.

Sail Banda 2010 (official Website)

"By promoting the natural, cultural and historical heritages that the areas have, we boost the growth of the tourism industry in eastern Indonesia," he said.

In the meantime, Sail Indonesia-Sail Banda committee`s official website said that more than 220 updated brochures had been sent to all the yachts, which had been interested in joining the event.

In 2009, Sail Indonesia-Sail Bunaken in North Sulawesi province was participated in by 133 yachts from dozens of other countries from around the world.

Over the past years, the participating international yachts started sailing to Indonesian waters from Darwin, capital of Australian state of Northern Territory.

This year, as explained in the committee`s official website, the first destination was Banda, 500 miles north of Darwin to participate in a series of events that would be held in Maluku and its capital city of Ambon.

The participating skippers are scheduled to leave Darwin on July 24 at 11 am for Banda Sail. They are welcomed with cultural festivals at the different stopovers across Indonesia on the islands of Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flores, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Borneo, Belitung and finally Batam or Bintan islands just south of Singapore.

The peak event of Sail Banda is scheduled on August 3. Banda is famous for the beauty and richness of its deep sea, cultural heritage and historical remains.

In the meantime, Army chief of staff, Gen George Toisutta said the army is set to make a success of Sail Banda as the event is the responsibility of the entire nation.

"This is a national program of international level, so that the Army is also responsible for its success in Maluku," he said in Ambon recently.

Meanwhile, Maluku Culture and Tourism office spokesperson, Florence Sahusilawane said on Thursday that accommodation and human resources should be a top priority to lure large numbers of foreign tourists.

"Human resources is on top of our priority and since October last year we have been familiarizing the people to the remotest villages across the province with the event," Sahusilawane said.

Regarding accommodation such as hotels and inns, Sahusilawane said around 2,700 rooms had been prepared at both star-rated and ordinary ones.

"We will also prepare houses for home stay to anticipate the inability of hotels and inns to accommodate all the tourists," Sahusilawane said, adding that tourist guides involving university students would also be trained in the near future.

"At least 40 students of university and tourism schools will be trained as tour guides but their number is still insufficient for around 6,000 tourists who will be coming to Maluku," she added.

To provide the tourists with tour packages, Maluku Culture and Tourism office will also cooperate with the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (Asita), Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI), and the Indonesian Tourist Guides Association (HPI).

"We will also prepare special facilities at hotels and other such accommodations for vendors to sell typical souvenirs from Maluku, because Sail Banda 2010 is a good opportunity for us to introduce typical products from the province to the tourists," Sahusilawane said.

Florence was also optimistic about the promotion of Sail Banda in Europe because the Maluku Museum director in the Netherlands, Dr Huib Akihary, had expressed readiness to help promote the event in European countries.

Apart from that, Bank Indonesia (the central bank) of Ambon branch is to open money changing counters and ATM booths in Banda to support the international marine event.

"Bank Indonesia and a number of other banks such as Bank BRI, Bank Central Asia (BCA), and Bank BNI will also provide services for financial transactions in Banda to support the event," spokesman for the Ambon branch of Bank Indonesia Totok Hermianto said in Ambon on Monday.

Totok said that he had discussed the event with the leaders of the banks operating in Ambon and they agreed to open banking service counters in Banda.

"Foreign tourists visiting Banda, as well as the participants of Sail Banda 2010 will find it easy to make financial transactions following the opening of the banking service counters in Banda during the international event," Totok said.

He expressed hope that the promotion of Sail Banda 2010 would be intensified in order to have a good impact on the Maluku economic development.

Meanwhile, Transportation Ministry Air Transportation director general Herry Bakti said his office was ready to support the Sail Banda 2010.

"In principle, the Transportation Directorate General is ready to support the event," he has said in Bandaneira, Banda, Maluku.

The most important thing is to prepare reliable telephone and Internet infrastructure, and this can facilitate communication and telecommunication so that people would not all have to gather in Ambon if they want to promote Banda," he said.

The national shipping company PT Pelni is also ready to help make the Sail Banda a success by sending more ships there.

Bachtiar, head of PT Pelni`s Ambon branch office, said in Ambon that the national shipping company felt it was also its moral responsibility to support the international event.

Meanwhile, General Manager of state-owned airport managing company, PT Angkasa Pura I of Pattimura airport branch office, Gerits Mailesun said that several airline companies such as Lion Air, Batavia, Sriwijaya and Wings have expressed readiness to provide excellent services to the participants of the international maritime events which will involve an estimated 5,000 people.

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