The Jakarta Post, August 01, 2006
Darwin-Ambon race may recommence
AMBON, Maluku: Seventeen yachts crewed by 57 men and women are taking part in
the Darwin-Saumlaki yacht race.
The race started Wednesday in Darwin at a ceremony attended by Indonesia
Ambassador to Australia H. Thayib, a spokesman for West Southeast Maluku
regency, J. Malindar, said on the weekend.
The race organizers hope to get support for the recommencement of the
Darwin-Ambon yacht race, which ran with great success for many years in the
pre-conflict era.
Four of the 17 yachts will continue their journey to Ambon. "The Saumlaki-Ambon leg
is a way of exploring the possibility of recommencing the Darwin-Ambon race,"
Malindar said.
The classic race was suspended when conflict broke out in Ambon in the late 90s.
In July 2003, representatives of the Darwin city administration talked to Ambon Mayor
MJ Papilaja about recommencing the race, but the plan was set aside after fresh
violence in Ambon on April 25, 2004, Malindar said.
"Now the condition in Ambon has returned to normal. We intend to revive the relations
between Ambon and Darwin as sister cities," Papilaja said in Ambon. -- JP
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