Ambon Makassar Cruise 2008

Idle chit chat over a few beers at Halim’s Restaurant in Ambon last year, spawned the idea of an escorted cruise in 2008.

Once the dust has settled on race celebrations in Ambon this year, the cruise will continue north into the Molucca Sea, across the top of Sulawesi and then down through the Makassar Strait to Makassar.

Itinerary (Ambon - Makassar - approx 30 days)

Important Notice to Skippers
Although every effort has been made to publish the correct coordinates, it would not be good seamanship to accept these as accurate for passage making and they should always be checked and verified prior to the voyage.

Ambon – Ternate: 310 miles
Stopping at islands along the way plus 1 overnight sail
Ternate is an island and town located off the west coast of the larger island of Halmahera. Like its neighbouring island, Tidore, Ternate is a visually dramatic cone-shaped island.

Once safely moored, there will be a welcoming dinner by the Ternate Government. Plenty of free time to explore.

We will then be overnighting at some of the wonderful bays and islands in the area. One of the committee yachts will have dive compressor on board so all divers can explore these crystal clear waters.

Ternate – Manado: 180 miles
We call into a couple of islands and have 1 overnight sail.
Manado is the capital of the North Sulawesi with a population of approx 420,000. As the largest city in the region, Manado is a key tourist transit point for visitors. Ecotourism is now the biggest attraction in the area.

A welcoming dinner will be given by the Manado Government and there will be plenty of free time to explore.

The World famous Bunaken Island which is close to Manado offers some of the best diving anywhere in the world. There are also three volcanoes; Mt Lokon at 1580 metres and the smaller Mt Empung and Mt Mahawu. Mt Lokon was last active in 2003.

Manado – Tolitoli: 270 miles
When we reluctantly weigh anchor at Manado we head West to Tolitoli. This small town receives few foreign visitors so be prepared for friendly curious looks from the locals. You will be able to purchase basic stores here.

Tolitoli – Equator – 125 miles
Leaving Tolitoli we will enter the Makassar Straits for the trip South for a party on the Equator.

Equator – We anchor at 00°00.0000 N 119°49.0000 E
If you anchor correctly, the tide and wind will ensure that your yacht does many effortless crosses between the hemispheres!

Equator – Parepare – 293 miles
Parepare is South Sulawesi’s second largest port with a population of 90,000. It is one of the major population centers of the Bugis people.

Parepare – Makassar – 69 miles
A short home run Makassar. There are hundreds of small islands in the approaches to Makassar. It can get quite windy here but the islands keep the seas fairly calm.

We will anchor off Losari Beach, a mere 100 metres from the Esplanade. There are numerous bars, restaurants and hotels and the shopping is good. Makassar is the place to top up your supplies and by this time, your bargaining skills should be finely tuned!

Makassar has a population of 1.4 million. Be sure to see the manual cargo loading of the traditional vessels at Paotere Harbour. Fort Rotterdam and the Museum there, are also worthy of inspection.

We look forward to your company throughout this cruise and hope it will build many friendships throughout the yachting community and the Indonesian people. 

For any information please call Wayne Huxley on (61) (0) 407179001 or email info@darwinambonrace.com.au. Wayne will be in the race and the cruise and has been to each of these cities to meet with the Government Officials and check out the harbour facilities.

Important Information

Remember - whilst in Indonesia, you are an ambassador for your country. Please be sensitive to cultural and religious practices - the locals and your mates will appreciate it!

There are extremely harsh penalties for drug offences.

Please take the time to look at http://wikitravel.org/en/Indonesia for some good advice and interesting information on Indonesia.

Indonesia in Brief

Etymology
The Republic of Indonesia (Indonesian: Republik Indonesia), is a nation in Southeast Asia. Comprising 17,508 islands, it is the world's largest archipelagic state. With a population of over 234 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country The nation's capital city is Jakarta. The Indonesian archipelago has been an important trade region since at least the seventh century.

Administrative
Administratively, Indonesia consists of 33 provinces, five of which have special status. Each province has its own political legislature and governor. The provinces are subdivided into regencies (kabupaten) and (kota), which are further subdivided into subdistricts (kecamatan), and again into village groupings (either desa or kelurahan). Following the implementation of regional autonomy measures in 2001, the regencies and cities have become the key administrative units, responsible for providing most government services. The village administration level is the most influential on a citizen's daily life, and handles matters of a village or neighborhood through an elected lurah or kepala desa (village chief).

Divisons
Indonesia consists of 17,508 islands, about 6,000 of which are inhabited. These are scattered over both sides of the equator. The five largest islands are Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo), New Guinea (shared with Papua New Guinea), and Sulawei. Indonesia shares land borders with Malaysia on the island of Borneo, Papua New Guinea on the island of New Guinea, and East Timor on the island of Timor. Indonesia also shares borders with Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines to the north and Australia to the south across narrow straits of water. The capital, Jakarta, is on Java and is the nation's largest city, followed by Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, and Semarang.

At 1,919,440 square kilometers (741,050 sq mi), Indonesia is the world's 16th-largest country in terms of land area. Its average population density is 134 people per square kilometer (347 per sq mi), 79th in the world, although Java, the world's most populous island, has a population density of 940 people per square kilometer (2,435 per sq mi). At 4,884 meters (16,024 ft), Puncak Jaya in Papua is Indonesia's highest peak, and Lake Toba in Sumatra its largest lake, with an area of 1,145 square kilometers (442 sq mi). The country's largest rivers are in Kalimantan, and include the Mahakam and Barito; such rivers are communication and transport links between the island's river settlements.

Culture
Indonesia has around 300 ethnic groups, each with cultural differences developed over centuries, and influenced by Arabic, Chinese, Malay, and European sources. Traditional Javanese and Balinese dances, for example, contain aspects of Hindu culture and mythology, as do wayang kulit (shadow puppet) performances. Textiles such as batik, ikat and songket are created across Indonesia in styles that vary by region. The most dominant influences on Indonesian architecture have traditionally been Indian; however, Chinese, Arab, and European architectural influences have been significant. Indonesian cuisine varies by region and is based on Chinese, European, Middle Eastern, and Indian precedents. Rice is the main staple food and is served with side dishes of meat and vegetables. Spices (notably chili), coconut milk, fish and chicken are fundamental ingredients.