Well-known as annual yacht rally as the way to promote about marine tourism, this tradition will be held again this year begin from August to December 2017. It can be said as grand event since this rally sail across the vast Indonesian seas, and this year, it will be held in the most north western tip of Indonesia, also known as Sabang, Weh Island, Aceh Province. Therefore, the pinnacle of Sail Indonesia 2017 will be known as Sail Sabang 2017, and will be started from December 1st 2017. Actually, there are several places in Sabang will be used to support this grand event, including Zero (0) kilometre point in Indonesia, Sabang Fair, and the Gapang Resort, while the centre of the activity will be held in the bay of Sabang. The grand event will not only consist of annual yacht rally but also feature with more exciting activities everyone can join, consist of:
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- Fishing Competition at Rondo Island
- Free Dive Championship
- Sabang Underwater Photography Competition held in Iboih and Gapang Beach
- Sabang Wonderful Expo and Marine Expo
- Parachuting Championship
- International Aerobatic Show
- The Aceh Cultural Week
- The Sail Sabang Parade
- Science Seminar and Exhibition, etc.
Beside featured with plenty attraction and exciting activities, this grand event will also has highlight opening too provided by attraction from traditional sail and traditional boats past by the para-motor show. In the other hand, the participants also allow to join city tour to the capital city of Aceh Province, Banda Aceh, and they will be lead into historical place in Aceh, the Tsunami Museum. The grand closure of the city tour will be provided by traditional ceremony which is called as Troen U Laot, and a must-watched colossal performance known as Keumalahayati traditional dance. According to the pinnacle of Sail Indonesia 2017 official website, this annual yacht rally will take route as follows: Kupang-Alor-Komodo Islands-Lombok-Bali-Karimun Jawa-Teluk Kumai-Belitung-Bangka-and Sabang. The first entry points take place in Kupang, East Nusatenggara, and will be started on August 1st 2017 from Australia.
Commonly, there will be lot stopovers which contain Indonesian local wisdom such as ceremonial welcome, dinner in local food, cultural display, and other delightful events. Therefore, the participant will be satisfied with more than enough exciting activities in the destinations places. According to the history, this grand event was organised by Yayasan Cinta Bahari Indonesia (YCBI) and conducted annually across the Indonesia started from 2001. Before the pinnacle of Sail Indonesia 2017 places, this grand event took places in Morotai Island, North Maluku in 2012; Komodo Island, West Nusa Tenggara in 2013; Raja Ampat, West Papua, 2014, and the last 2015 in the Bay of Tomini, Central Sulawesi. According to the statement given by official team, there are plenty cruise ships and yachts from nearby countries has invited already to participate this grand event, mostly from Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Other than that, apart from cruise ships and yacht, the Sail Sabang 2017 also invite up to 40 world diving communities to join the event.
