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Equator-Asia
Yacht Rally
The
Equator-Asia
Yacht Rally
is a
series of venues, passages, towns and islands which create
the opportunity to explore anchorages, events, islands, shore
excursions, passages and cultural experiences linking the four countries of
BIMP-EAGA
- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
The
first
Equator-Asia
Yacht Rally
is scheduled to begin in June 2010. Yachts will embark
from Darwin (Australia) and journey through some of
Indonesia's greatest natural attractions including Komodo, Wakatobi, the
Spice Islands, Ambon to northern Sulawesi, and from there to
Kalimantan, followed by Sabah
(Malaysia), Palawan (Philippines), then south via islands
off the west coast
of Borneo, to finish in Brunei.
This rally will operate as a journey of discovery and adventure
to give crews an insight into the people and the environment
which make
BIMP-EAGA so
culturally rich and eco diverse.
Each nation in
BIMP-EAGA has
it's own unique history, geography, traditions and climate.
Together, these have helped shape their present
day, culture and lifestyles. But
all are linked by the common seas that lap their shores and
offer
the mariner - past and present - the means to travel from one to the other; as
people have done for centuries.
This historical maritime
linking of EAGA is part of the modern day foundation of
BIMP-EAGA and
contributes to the reasons for establishing the
Equator-Asia
Yacht Rally.
Since the
Northern Territory of Australia
is a Dialogue Partner with
BIMP-EAGA,
starting the journey into
Equator-Asia
from Darwin parallels
the existing close private and government sector links.
The
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
two or more rally
fleets, travelling approximately two weeks apart.
At key shore venues, a variety of shore
activities and visits will be organised by local tour
operators and local government, to highlight the
particular area's attractions. The local knowledge and
experience of these contacts will be available to
assist participants with information ranging from boat
repairs, fuel supplies, CIQ formalities and great places to
visit on route to the next key shore venue.
An early stop in the
programme is planned at an Indonesian island - in
Wakatobi, at the southern tip
of Sulawesi - which hosts a
research base from where a succession of young scientists have been studying the marine and
rainforest ecology for the past fifteen years. A variety of
strategies have been developed for sustainable marine and
land based food production suited to local communities. Participating
crews will be briefed about findings, outcomes for
sustainable community-based ecotourism, challenges which
face the region, and how crews can manage their journey
through
BIMP-EAGA
to
minimise their impact and assist the environment.
Some stops will involve
conservation groups, (eg: there is a turtle conservation
group that wants yachts to stop for a few days - and bring
chain saws - to cut up logs so turtles can get ashore to lay
eggs), education groups (eg; briefings about projects
undertaken by communities and researchers), a mother ship
(eg: a live-aboard dive boat to tie alongside for diving,
snorkelling, shore excursions, tank refills, meals and
relaxing on board), and startup community based
ecotourism programmes.
Timing of the
Equator-Asia
Yacht Rally
is designed to integrate
with:
1.
Favourable sailing conditions and wind
directions.
The "winter" SE wind flow will help push yachts north along
the east coast of Australia, and east from the South Pacific
to Darwin, where yachts can make their preparations for
departure into
Equator-Asia.
Pre-dominantly light to moderate SE winds will push participating
yachts from Northern Australia through the Timor, Arafura, Banda
and Molukka seas to reach Manado.
From Manado, winds varying from
SW to NE are expected for passages along northern Sulawesi and across to Borneo
(Kalimantan). As yachts progress
north to Sandakan and
west across the Sulu Sea towards Palawan, the last of the SW Monsoon
from the South China Sea is expected to exert it's influence. The
last part of the journey - island and coastal hopping south
along the east coast of Palawan followed by the west coast of Borneo
- to Brunei, will be a mixture of fading SW Monsoon
and establishing NE Monsoon as it progressively extends from
northern Palawan to Borneo.
April to October is the dry season on northern Australia,
and the off-season for tropical storms in the southern
hemisphere. The same period is the northern hemisphere
tropical storm period. However, since tropical storms do not
occur in equatorial areas - from 10 degrees south to 10
degrees north - and the most northerly point is Puerto
Princesa, the rally route is clear of the danger area.
2. Existing events
departing northern Australia.
The
Darwin to Ambon Yacht Race
and
Sail Indonesia
both provide organised events, great venues and the
attraction of sailing in company. Both can be used as an
initial departure from Australia to
meet existing
Equator-Asia
Yacht Rally
yachts, or establish another fleet on the route.
Options after the
Equator-Asia
Yacht Rally
finish in Brunei:
1. For yachts
heading to Singapore/Thailand.
The NE Monsoon (actually NW along the west coast of Borneo) provides a fresh breeze to push yachts down
the west coast of Borneo (Sarawak - Malaysia) to arrive in the Singapore,
Peninsula Malaysia or Thailand areas for Christmas and New Year.
The transition from SW Monsoon to NE/NW Monsoon normally occurs
during
November or early December on the west coast of Borneo. This fresher
NE/NW Monson - normally 15 to 20 kts afternoon
NW sea breeze along the west coast of Borneo and lighter NE wind overnight - facilitates a quick passage south
in a persistent sailing breeze.
2. For yachts
planning to spend more time in NW Borneo.
Following the early/mid
November rally finish in Brunei, there is the opportunity to
further explore shore venues in north west Borneo - Brunei,
Sabah and Sarawak.
Marinas in this area - at Miri, Labuan and Kota Kinabalu -
along with a variety of international flight linkages,
provide options for those people planning to leave yachts
while they fly home to Europe, North America and
Australia/NZ for the Christmas and New year period.
NW Borneo provides a number
of options for haul-out and boat maintenance of yachts
while owners are away.
3. For yachts
planning to cruise the Philippines.
A growing number of
yachts
use the NE Monsoon period
(approx October to March) in the southern Philippines, to
cruise north along the less developed western coast of
Palawan - when the coast is a protective weather shore. This
route takes yachts from north-west Borneo along the Palawan
island chain to Coron area.
Recent
cruising yacht reports confirm the fresh NE wind shifts E as it comes
across Palawan, providing good sailing in relatively flat seas
between beautiful anchorages. Numerous anchorages
allow day hop sailing with the afternoon sun from behind
when picking a route through shallows to an anchorage. November to March is also the peak
scuba diving season in
Palawan because the dry season creates the best water
visibility. A number of dive resorts along the coast welcome
cruising yachts with access to their facilities.
Our
Brunei-Palawan
Yacht Rally
provides yachts with a loosely organised event from Brunei
to Coron - via the west coast of Palawan - in January to
March each year. This event capitalises on the Christmas/New
Year events at Royal Brunei Yacht Club, the duty free
advantages of nearby Labuan, and the relatively untouched
and beautiful scenery of the west coast of Palawan to create
a memorable cruising experience.
After arriving in Coron
area, further Philippines cruising options include to cruise to Puerto Galera
(see
Puerto Galera Yacht Club
), and from there to Cebu region, returning to
Sandakan or the east coast of Palawan before making their
passage down the west coasts of Borneo, to Singapore,
Peninsula Malaysia and Thailand prior to heading to the Red
Sea.
Some yachts have sailed
from Puerto Galera through the islands of Mindanao to
General Santos and Davao prior to making passages back to
Australia or New Zealand around the top of Iranian Jaya and
PNG to the Solomons. From Coron area, it's also
possible to sail north to Manila and Subic Bay.
The traditional
craftmanship of the Philippines is utilised in yacht repair
and haul-out facilities in numerous parts of the
Philippines, with Subic Bay and Cebu areas being the most
active.
The SW Monsoon is the
period most yachts cruise the Southern Philippines because
it provides a favourable wind with relatively
slight seas and gentle breezes in the Sulu Sea. This SW
Monsoon period is also the northern hemisphere Tropical
Storm period. Tropical Storms can impact the Philippines
during the period May to November. The Philippines is well setup with Typhoon
shelters and there is plenty of advance warning these days
if TSs begin to develop in the warm water north of Irian
Jaya/PNG.
Notes:
1.
Equator-Asia
is the tourism
destination name adopted by the BIMP-EAGA Tourism Council (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.
The NE/NW Monsoon on the west coast of Borneo is also referred to as the wet season;
characterised by evening storms and overnight rain, with
mostly clear days, but less visibility for diving and
water-sports because of the increased muddy runoff from
rivers. The afternoon sea breeze is about 12 to 20
knots. This is also the right time for exciting white
water rafting trips asahore!
3. The SW Monsoon season
on the west coast of Borneo is also referred to as the dry season, with fewer
overnight storms and rain. The afternoon sea breeze is about
10 to 15 knots. Sea water visibility improves
substantially so it's generally the preferred season for
sailing, diving, snorkelling and fishing around NW Borneo.
4. The NE Monsoon season
in the Philippines is their dry season. Water visibility is
at its best so this is the most popular time for scuba
diving and other water sports in sheltered areas. It
has not been the popular yacht cruising period in the
southern Philippines because of choppy conditions in the
Sulu Sea and surrounding islands. But it has become the
preferred season to travel the attractive west coast of
Palawan; mostly day hopping between comfortable anchorages.
The clear water makes approaching sometimes poorly charted
anchorages much easier, and more so because an afternoon
approach has the sun from behind.
5. The SW Monsoon
period is the main cruising season in the southern Philippines.
It is also referred to as their wet season, and is also the Tropical
Storm season. A number of Tropical Storms can be expected to
start in the NW Pacific, west of Guam each season. Some of
these can track west to cross the Philippines, or run
parallel with the eastern coastline of the Philippines.
While a considerable part of the southern Philippines
cruising area is south of 10d N - the theoretical southerly
limit of Tropical Storm activity - there will still be
significant wind changes in these areas if a TS approaches
or crosses the
Philippines. North of 10d N - in the popular cruising areas
around Mindoro, Panay and Negros - it's possible to have a
TS tracking through these areas. Cruisers need to keep a
close watch on potential TSs and act accordingly. As can be
expected in an island nation with so much commercial marine
traffic, the Philippines has
established many facilities to shelter boats during TSs,
along with advanced weather warning systems.
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.
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