Asia’s Newest Boat Show & Darwin-Bali-Langkawi Yacht Rally

Created by doina. Last modified on 2006-05-03 09:56:00
Contributors:
Topic: Rallies
Countries: Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore

The tropical island of Langkawi is to be the setting for what is likely to be the biggest congregation of all things marine ever seen in Malaysia. Come November, the doors will open on Asia’s newest boat show – Langkawi International Boat Exhibition - LIBEX – as the Grand Finale of the Darwin-Bali-Langkawi Yacht Rally and the final leg of the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta.

Participation in the Yacht Rally is predicted to exceed the already high numbers for 2005, with over 120 expressions of interest and 60 confirmed entries to date. Last year, a total of 69 boats made the Rally the second largest yachting event in the Asian region after the King’s Cup in Thailand. The Rally is a collaborative effort between Sail Indonesia (managed by Yayasan Cinta Bahari Indonesia) and SailAsia Sdn Bhd of Malaysia which manages the route from Indonesia and beyond.

The first leg of the Rally will leave Darwin, Australia, on 22 July, bound for Kupang, Indonesia, on the western tip of Timor, where last year the whole town turned out to greet and treat the yachties to the first in a range of cultural experiences in Indonesia.

Other main stops in Indonesia include Alor, where the scuba-diving is world-class, several places in beautiful Flores, offering the chance to visit the spectacular Kelimutu volcanos, as well as Lombok, and the more well-known Bali. Other more remote places are also included on the itinerary, while festivities, welcome dinners and land trips are planned in each main stopover location.

After Indonesia, the yachts head north to Raffles Marina, Singapore before heading up the Malaysian coast to Pulau Pangkor, about halfway up the Peninsula, before the final destination of Langkawi. This will be at about the time, in November, when the 40 or so yachts competing in the annual Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta will be heading out of Port Klang, also on their way north to Langkawi.

As all these yachts and crew arrive in Langkawi waters, exhibitors at Asia’s newest boat show and trade exhibition will be putting the finishing touches to their exhibits as part of the last-minute preparations for LIBEX. The four-day event will take place in Telaga Harbour from Friday 24th to Monday 27th November. LIBEX is being organised by SailAsia Sdn Bhd of Malaysia in conjunction with Tourism Malaysia’s drive to promote and develop the marine leisure sector in the country.

LIBEX will feature on-water berths, outdoor display areas, air-conditioned exhibitor pavilions, as well as demo opportunities and seminar slots, and other activities associated with an international boating event of this nature. Recognising the attraction of Malaysia as a leisure destination, there will also be a segment for property and leisure service providers to promote the wide range of investment and lifestyle opportunities available.

Visit www.langkawiboatshow.com for more details on LIBEX

Visit www.sailasia.net & www.sailindonesia.net for more details on the Rally.