"There are 30 yachts willing to take part in the race but up to now only 16 have registered," coordinator of the Darwin-Ambon Yacht Race 2011, Hellen de Lima said here on Wednesday.
She said that the number of participants would certainly increase as registration would remain open until June 30, 2001.
"A couple of days ago, five participants said they would soon send application data to the organizers," she said.
The 16 yachts which have registered with 68 crew are Australia Maid with skipper John Wardill, Breakaway (Alan Chalk), Even Karma (John Hardy), Freedom Express (Ross McCombe), Game Set (John Mulkearns), Pandora (Rick Setter), Raucous (Bob Colman), Scot Free II (Barrie Morgan).
Others include Shady Lady with skipper Peter Charles), Solace III (Roger Hatten), Xscape (Andrew Boller), Fantasia (Andrew Stransky), Wicked (Danny Foley), Lady Bubbly (Chris Mitchell), Parlay (Ray Jones) and Maralinga (John Jordan).
The Darwin-Ambon Yacht Race 2011 would be kicked off at Darwin port of Australia on July 23, 2011. It is expected to finish at Amahusu beach, Nusaniwe subdistrict, Ambon on July 25.
In the meatime, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono flanked by Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad officially launched the Sail Wakatobi Belitong (SWB) or Sail Indonesia 2011 in Jakarta Tuesday (June 7).
The launching was expected to help promote the international mariners` event to the public worldwide, Minister Fadel said according to a press release of the marine affairs and fisheries ministry here Wednesday.
The SWB 2011 is being held in Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi Province, and Belitung in Bangka Belitung (Babel) Province.
The SWB 2011 is continuation of Sail Indonesia 2009 in Bunaken, and Bitung in North Sulawesi Province, and Sail Indonesia 2010 in Banda, Maluku.
At least 200 domestic and foreign participants will join the marine event, and 94 of them from 16 countries have so far registered themselves.(*)
A014/HAJM
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
