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Sail
BIMP-EAGA
Exploring Equator-Asia |
West Borneo
The
West Borneo
cruise
is
designed to take yachts south along the west coast
of Borneo, using the favourable NE/NW Monsoon at that time
of year.
Yachts
can begin from Kota Kinabalu or Labuan to join the official
start in Brunei - in North-West Borneo
- to head south for stops in Miri, Bintulu and other centres along
the west coast of Sarawak. This event involves two
BIMP-EAGA
nations - Brunei and Malaysia.
The
West Borneo
cruise
starts in mid November each year, and finishes in Kuching by
the 20th of December.
Yachts can begin
from their preferred preparation venue - either Sutera
Harbour,
Labuan marina, or from the
Royal Brunei Yacht Club in Brunei. For those starting from
Kota Kinabalu or Labuan, the initial stop will be Brunei for
the official start of the cruise. The route will be mostly day hops,
heading south along the coast to numerous venues and ports.
A varied programme of
shore activities and functions from Miri south is prepared
by the Sarawak Tourism Association in conjunction with
government tourism agencies, and tour operators.
Participants can expect to enjoy dinners, excursions and
activities that highlight established visitor experiences
along with Community-Based Sustainable Ecotourism
programmes being developed in line with the BIMP-EAGA
Tourism Council's scheme.
The finish is in
Kuching, where the colonial buildings, adjacent wildlife
sanctuaries and interior native communities provide numerous
opportunities to explore and enjoy the natural and cultural
heritage of BIMP-EAGA.
For those yachts which
choose to embark from Brunei, the pre-rally period at
Royal Brunei Yacht Club will give cruisers the opportunity to purchase less
common imported food items from the well stocked
supermarkets, and enjoy the hospitality, great food and
functions at the Royal Brunei Yacht Club.
Each
rally fleet will be limited to approximately 15 yachts and
50 crew, in order to facilitate access to smaller venues,
environmentally sensitive locations, and to avoid
overwhelming shore facilities. If required, there may be
multiple rally
fleets, travelling approximately two weeks apart.
Timing of the
West Borneo
cruise
is designed to integrate
with:
1. Arrival of the
Equator Asia
cruise from Darwin via
Indonesia, Sabah, and Palawan in to Brunei
in early November. Yachts in this
Sail
BIMP-EAGA
cruise will spend a week or so in Brunei before starting the
West Borneo
cruise.
Participation in the
West Borneo
cruise
will give the
Equator Asia
yachts an introduction to the history, culture and
environment of west Borneo, before crossing to Singapore and
Peninsula Malaysia for the Christmas and New Year period. S
2.
Favourable sailing conditions and wind
directions.
The NE/NW Monsoon, season along the west coast of Borneo brings
a fresh breeze that typically blows at 15 to 20kts from the
NW in the afternoon and evening. Although the wind is mostly
NE in the Sulu Sea, and further west in the South China Sea,
along the west coast of Borneo, the wind bends to be onshore
- NW - as the afternoon sea breeze,
from about 1200 to 2000
each day.
Overnight, the normally
light offshore breeze is supplemented by the dominant NE
flow, to create some pre-dawn and early morning sailing in a
steady 8 to 12kts, with minimal sea because of the nearby
weather shore.
The NE Monsoon is also the
wet season for Borneo. This is characterised by heavy
rainfall from evening and overnight storms which normally
clear before dawn, or occasionally early morning.
Rainy days are not common. Coastal rivers have stronger
outgoing water flows.
Options after the
West Borneo
cruise
finish in Kuching:
1. Yachts planning
to visit Singapore or to cruise the Malacca Straits
will take advantage of the NE Monsoon to make a quick
passage
from Borneo to Singapore area. A number of marinas and
yacht clubs in Singapore provide an excellent base to
explore this city state. Numerous yacht maintenance
yards are also available in Singapore. The duty free status
of Singapore makes it an attractive place to receive spare
parts sent from overseas.
Many cruisers also use lower cost marinas in adjacent
Malaysia - just across the Straits of Jahor - as a base, and
take public transport into Singapore.
Some owners might chose to
leave yachts in marinas in Singapore - or adjacent Malaysia
- to fly home for the Christmas/New Year holiday period,
returning in January to explore along the Malacca Straits,
or move quickly to Phuket to embark into the Andamans for
the preferred - January to April - cruising season there.
The Malaysian island of
Langkawi - in the Malacca Straits, near the Thai border - is
a popular vacation area. There are a number of marinas and
boat repair yards. Langkawi's duty ree status is great
for resupplying wine & beer stocks, receiving shipments of
boat parts or sails, buying antifouling, chandlery items and
engine parts. Prices are cheaper than in Singapore, other
parts of Malaysia, or Thailand.
2. Yachts on a fast
circumnavigation schedule, might complete the
Equator Asia
cruise, followed by
the
West Borneo
cruise,
then use the
fresh NE/NW Monsoon to sail to Singapore, and up the Malacca
Straits to Phuket, to prepare for a January or February
departure to the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.
Notes:
1.
Equator Asia
is the tourism
destination brand name adopted by the BIMP-EAGA Tourism Cluster (BETC)
following extensive work on the part of two key BIMP-EAGA
supports - the Asian Development Bank and GTZ - and
subsequent market research by BETC members.
2.
All of Borneo is below 10
degrees north and therefore free of Tropical Storms,
although their presence may change the normal wind direction
and strength for a few days.
3.
Brunei is the preferred location to receive shipped boat
parts, sails, chandlery, electronics etc on the west or
north coasts of Borneo. Import of all boat parts - apart
from batteries and spark plugs - is duty free into Brunei.
Contact
INTREPIDYACHTING
for details.
Please return here to
get further details
as the cruise schedule develops.
If you would like to add
your contact details to our database to be updated with
details, please click on the For inquiries ....
link below.
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