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Sail BIMP-EAGA Exploring Equator-Asia

West Borneo 

Frequently Asked Questions

Organisers:

Sail BIMP-EAGA is created, organised and managed from the Bandar Seri Begawan offices of Intrepid Management Service Sdn, Bhd, a Brunei based company, and registered tour operator.

How to register my interest?

Please use the inquiry form at the bottom of this page to add your name and yacht to those interested to join the 2010 cruise. Please remember each fleet will be limited to a maximum of 15 yachts and approximately 50 people. There may be more than one fleet with multiple departures about two weeks apart.

Where do we meet in Brunei?

The Royal Brunei Yacht Club is the host venue for the official start of the West Borneo cruise. RBYC provides a base of support for crews as they make preparations to head south. The club caterers at both club houses - Serasa and Kota Batu - provide a (non-halal) menu of local and western meals. Social and sailing events at RBYC are a great way to enjoy Brunei, meet other rally participants, and prepare for the cruise. The anchorage off RBYC Serasa is convenient with good holding, and tender access to the club premises.

RBYC's facilities, great meals and friendly atmosphere have a strong and popular reputation amongst cruising yachts. 

The duty free import of boat parts helps make Brunei an attractive stop for cruisers needing to receive new sails, electronic equipment, engine parts etc; anything apart from batteries and spark plugs. Contact INTREPIDYACHTING for more details.

What equipment & capabilities does my yacht need?

Well-found cruising yachts will find the demands of cruising through the warm and relatively placid waters of BIMP-EAGA to be easy-going, compared to higher latitude cruising. 

Nevertheless, participating yacht are recommended to obtain a copy of Yachting Australia's "Blue Book", which contains the yacht racing rules, but more importantly, a comprehensive section on yacht equipment, fittings and safety equipment which is far more detailed than the normal ISAF Special Regulations. This "Blue Book" information  is based on the accumulated wisdom of millions of hours racing and cruising, including recommendations arising from incidents. It is strongly recommended that yachts meet or exceed the specifications for a Category 1 yacht race.

All participating yachts will require a functional HF/SSB radio and SailMail service, so they can obtain weather information, contact other yachts in the fleet for information or advice, and  maintain communication with Sail BIMP-EAGA staff. 

Participating yachts will receive a free subscription to BRUNEI BAY RADIO's extended HF/SSB email service. This service works using the same software/hardware as SailMail, and from within the same copy of the on-board software that creates, send/receives and displays SailMail messages. The BBRemail subscription provides additional daily connection time, and the ability to send/receive attachments (eg: pdf files, jpg photos etc) to receive information about official Stops and Anchorages along the route, and for general communications with Sail BIMP-EAGA staff.  

It is strongly recommended that yachts have a proper Marine HF/SSB radio, programmed with the full marine bandplan of HF/SSB channels and frequencies. Please:

1. Ensure your yacht has a proper registered marine callsign. An Amateur Radio callsign - assigned to a person - is not sufficient.
    

2. Read the sections on HF/SSB radio use in this region under the Yacht Cruising section of the BRUNEI BAY RADIO web pages.
    

3. Ensure your HF/SSB radio has - as a minimum - the full complement of Marine HF/SSB channels assigned to BRUNEI BAY RADIO, and the other simplex frequencies that may be used. See the Voice Services page of the BBR website for details. 
    

4. Ensure your HF/SSB radio - and/or alternate contact initiation option - is equipped to initiate (eg DSC) and maintain communication (ie: on the official Marine HF/SSB Emergency Frequencies) with an MRCC, in the unlikely case of a Pan Pan or MayDay situation. See the Marine Emergency Contact and Emergency Contact List pages of the BRUNEI BAY RADIO website for details.

A list of other recommended on-board equipment and capabilities will be provided to participants after registration.
 

Can Motor Yachts participate  too?

Yes, motor yachts are welcome to join the West Borneo cruise 

How do we stay in contact before the cruise?

The email address for all communication about the cruise - before and during - is  equatorasia(at)bruneibay.net 

The office phone number in Brunei is +673 2 221685/6

The office fax number in Brunei is +673 2 221687

How do we stay in contact during the cruise?

Communication from/to Sail BIMP-EAGA staff, local service providers and tour operators during the cruise, will be provided over HF/SSB radio via BRUNEI BAY RADIO:

• The free BBRemail subscription provided to all participating yachts will be used to communicate via email with Sail BIMP-EAGA staff. It will also be used to send yachts regular updates including Adobe pdf attachments with details of events, facilities, services, tours etc for upcoming official Stops and Anchorages.
   

• Yachts will use their SailMail service as usual to request/obtain updated weather information (eg: GRIB charts or METAREA forecasts and warnings) to help schedule longer passages, to order spare-parts, organise crew changes, and maintain contact with family and friends.
   

• The free BBRemail subscription is available to update your blogs and websites regularly with pictures (as attachments) and text about venues and experiences during the cruise. And to send articles to sailing magazines, yacht club newsletters, on-line yachting newsletters and general tourism publications. The BIMP-EAGA Tourism Council, local tourism associations, government agencies and tour operators who facilitate and support this cruise need your support in return, via the publicity you can generate.
   

• A morning voice sked will be conducted on BRUNEI BAY RADIO's assigned marine voice channels/frequencies.
   

• Yachts will email an evening position report and sailing plan to Sail BIMP-EAGA staff each day.
   

• Yacht are also requested to submit a YOTREPS position report each evening so their progress can be observed by friends and family, and the shore service providers or government support agencies on-route. 

How much does this cruise cost?

The cost is composed of two elements:

1. A participation fee - to cover the cost of organising and managing the event. For the West Borneo cruise, this is expected to be Bn/Sg$250 per yacht, including two crew, for the approximately five week event. An  additional fee will apply for additional crew members.

2. Optional local events, activities, tours, shore excursions/accommodation etc at official Stops and Anchorages.

A list of activity and tour options, with prices, local contacts, services, facilities etc will be emailed to participants via BBRemail about a week before arriving at each official Stop and Anchorage.

What do I get for my money?

• The freedom to cruise beautiful coasts, uncrowded anchorages, and thousands of islands with small groups of like-minded yachties because Sail BIMP-EAGA provides the communication and support networks to assist you along the way.
   

• The confidence to explore and enjoy relatively untouched and isolated areas of BIMP-EAGA, where more traditional lifestyles and nature's bounty still exist. Equator Asia - The Heart of Biodiversity
   

• The opportunity to visit venues, meet people, experience diverse cultures, see wildlife and enjoy spectacular scenery in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
   

• The knowledge that your involvement in Sail BIMP-EAGA will contribute to the poverty alleviation, cultural and environmental preservation goals of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council and BIMP-EAGA Tourism Council.
  
  And that through the commitment of many individuals and organisations to the development of Community-based Ecotourism projects and local SMEs, the money you spend - and the money which other yachts spend when they visit, after reading your experiences - will help create income streams that protect and preserve the traditional knowledge, the unique cultures and the diverse natural heritage of Equator Asia - The Heart of Biodiversity.
   

• The included Sail BIMP-EAGA dinners, events, tours etc along the routes, arranged in conjunction with local tourism associations or operators, and government supporters. 

What about entry into Brunei?

Existing CIQ services at Serasa Ferry Terminal will be used for entry and departure formalities at Brunei.

Visiting yachts do not require a cruising permit, customs bond or any other special permits for Brunei waters.

Inward and outward Customs clearance must be completed, along with Ports and Marine clearances. There are no charges for these clearances for private recreation vessels.

There is no duty on importing yachts, or parts (except for batteries and spark plugs) for boats into Brunei. This makes Brunei attractive as a place to send new sails and other boat parts. Contact INTREPIDYACHTING for details.

Immigration entry formalities to Brunei for yacht crews presently vary with nationality. For example, USA citizens receive a 2 months visit pass for no charge. UK citizens receive a one month visit pass for no charge. Australians must complete a Visa on Arrival form for a 2 week visit pass and pay Bn$20. Alternatively a 72 hour transit visa and visit pass is available for Bn$5.

Sail BIMP-EAGA staff are working with Brunei Immigration officials to simplify and harmonise the immigration requirements for Sail BIMP-EAGA yacht crews. 
 

What about entry into Malaysia?

Visiting yachts do not require a cruising permit, customs bond or any other special permits for Malaysian waters. Malaysian Customs regulations require only one customs formality upon entering Malaysian waters, and another when departing.

Visiting yachts are required to complete port and marine formalities as they move around Malaysia. There are no charges for privately owned recreation vessels.

Immigration formalities are required when entering Malaysia, and when moving in and out of the States of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan. The standard visitor permit for Malaysia is one month; sufficient time for the expected duration of the West Borneo cruise in Sarawak. There is no charge for a visitor permit. 

Miri will be the entry point into Sarawak, and Kuching will be the departure point.

Sailing the morning offshore breeze along the west coast of Borneo in January, during the NE/NW Monsoon season.  Clear skies after the overnight rain, and flat seas created by the rain and nearby weather shore.

Please return here to get further details
as the rally 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.