Ambon To Build Seaport for Darwin-Ambon Race

Ambon (Antara Maluku) - Ambon city administration will construct a seaport at Amahusu village waters in effort to support the Darwin-Ambon Yacht Race 2013 (DAYR 2013), Ambon city mayor, Richard Louhenapessy said.

The seaport measuring more than 300 meters, will be constructed around Tirta Kencana hotel which is expected to be equipped with Ambon special culinary, the mayor said here on Monday.    

"A seaport will be immediately built and make it as a mooring harbor for yachts as participants in Darwin-Ambon Yacht Race 2013," he said.

According to him, so far the participating yachts only moored at the coastal Amahusu village which functions as the finish line at the international sailing event.

To date, at least 37 yachts have been registered for the annual Darwin-Ambon Yacht Race 2013 (DAYR 2013), the mayor noted previously.

"Some 37 yachts have been registered but the number does not include some other sail boats which join the Darwin Sailing Club (DSC)," Louhenapessy noted.

The mayor said the Darwin to Ambon Yacht Race would have a very significant benefit to the people of Ambon because it would become a promoter to attract many people to visit that eastern Indonesian city in Maluku province.

According to him, the number of participants this year was still small, and therefore the city governments of Ambon and Darwin would continue to work hard to make the race, initiated by the Cruising Yacht Association of the Northern Territory Incorporated (CYANT) since 1976, remain sustainable.

Louhenapessy added that the participants in 2012 had promised to encourage more yachts to join this year`s international sailing event.

The mayor reiterated that the Darwin to Ambon Yacht Race and Rally served as Ambon tourism promotion event to international community, and therefore private sectors were asked to play their role.

"The participation of private sectors is needed in the promotion of Ambon tourism. Therefore, we will encourage them in the future to play their role in such an international marine event," Louhenapessy said. (KR-JA)