All participants have been provided with the coordinates, but because of the strong winds some of them have been misguided and yet to arrive in the port.
Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - Dozens of yachts participating in Sail Komodo 2013 have been reportedly misguided during their voyage from Darwin in Australia to Teluk Koepang Port, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.

The E Nusa Tenggara Tourism and Creative Economy Agency`s Head of Tourism Promotion, HA Haris, confirmed the report here on Friday, admitting that dozens of yachts of Sail Komodo participants had yet to arrive in Kupang.

The report mentioned that those participants lost direction because of the wind.

"We have been trying to make radio contact. There are dozens of participants who have not yet arrived in the port. Some of them were already close to the port but reversed course, as the yachts were buffeted by strong winds," Haris explained.

He said the organizers are continuing to guide the participants towards the Teluk Koepang Port, but the strong winds are preventing participants from quickly reaching the specified coordinates.

"All participants have been provided with the coordinates, but because of the strong winds some of them have been misguided and yet to arrive in the port," Haris noted.

Currently, the organizers are continuously monitoring the participants' locations and guiding them towards Kupang.

So far 61 yachts have arrived in Teluk Koepang Port, each carrying 4-6 people.

Those yachts are still in Kupang, waiting for the next event, which is scheduled for August 4.

All participants upon their arrival were immediately guided to process their paperwork at the posts set up around the port, Haris said.

After finishing the paperwork, he added, the participants will be directed to visit tourism sites in the Kupang Municipality and Kupang District.

The participants are scheduled to stay in Kupang until August 4, before continuing their voyage to Labuan Bajo, in the west of Flores Island, or Komodo country.

On their way to Labuan Bajo, the participants will visit every district of the island's provinces.

By September 9-10, all participants are expected to arrive in Labuan Bajo to attend the final event of Sail Komodo 2013, which is scheduled to be attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on September 14. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013