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Brian wrote... "In 2009 I have entered my N55 SKIE into the Sail Indonesia Rally www.sailindonesia.net leaving from Darwin late July. It is expected that 150 - 200 odd boats will be in it and I expect that I will be the first power passagemaker to enter (although I expect others will join me)" Hi Brian, over the last five years there has been an increasing number of power boats are coming thru from Darwin in rallys and on their own. I live aboard in singapore and often meet up with these guys at my home marina One15 in Singapore of cruising around the indonesian islands. There are a lot of interesting power boats coming thru. Interesting because they are often custom designs or conversions. I think Passagemaker had a write up on one of them a 50ft wooden ex fishing boat converted to a passagemaker owned by a bloke called Phil who i need a few years ago in Indonesia. It is very likely that you will have several other power boats accompanying you. Your boat may well be the most complex and visable so i do understand your comments re support and security. "PS My wife and I have stayed at the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay Bali for 14 years until the Bali bombing came along. In peaceful tranquillity I never left the hotel compound without organised security. Love my kid/grandkids too much to have them anxious." I have been to Bali and NYC before and after the bombings. I have never felt the need for organised security in either location, but i understand that people must do what makes them feel comfortable. Cheers John Seahorse 52 "Jewel" Singapore This Rally has been revived and is now under the auspices of the Indonesian Government for reasons of healing wounds etc (Bali bombing), and building tourist dollars. What I have been told and read, it is the best possible way you could see this unbelievably beautiful archipelago of 1700 odd islands by boat with everything laid on for security, hospitality, and entertainment. An extra tack on rally then goes up to Langkawi Island in Malaysia. Those heading westwards to the Med from then on, are basically on their own. Anyone flirting with the idea of doing this adventure should enter now, and reserve a marina berth in one of Darwin's marinas for at least two weeks before departure. No obligation until late 2008 or early 2009. So the moral of the story here is that if you get into any strife, you will have physical help all around you from other rally vessels, organisers, Government agencies (including the Navy, and positions/wellbeing will be reported constantly on the log. No need to set off the EPIRB that may be ignored by some bureaucrat at a long lunch in Jakarta or wherever. For US yachties, smarter to ring 911 on the sat phone. Had a private e-mail from a listee saying I was too harsh on my "idiot, butt kicking" comment and that I should consider what his poor wife went through. Give me a break. Who really let the wife down? Peter Sheppard PS My wife and I have stayed at the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay Bali for 14 years until the Bali bombing came along. In peaceful tranquillity I never left the hotel compound without organised security. Love my kid/grandkids too much to have them anxious. ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Passagemaking-Under-Power Mailing List End of Passagemaking-Under-Power Digest, Vol 37, Issue 8 ******************************************************** ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ