CRUISING RAJA AMPAT ‘THE JEWEL OF ’ BY LINDA CARTLIDGE

‘Raja Ampat is the perfect location according to a record number of superyacht captains that have cruised the area in the last year’, enthuses Richard Lofthouse, director of Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia, with offices in Bali and now in Raja Ampat

AJA AMPAT TRANSLATED MEANS ‘THE FOUR KINGS’, a name derived from the four major islands in the group nestled on the tip of ’s Birds Head peninsula. It’s an archipelago comprising over 1500 small islands, cays, and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Raja Ampat – Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo along with the smaller island of Kofiau. In the vicinity of the four mountainous main islands are hundreds of small islands to explore. In addition, the karst area is a beautiful and original natural phenomenon, with unique flora and fauna attractions whilst offering many opportunities to trek around the islands to find hidden waterfalls and ancient caves. Raja Ampat Regency is a new regency, separated from Sorong Regency in 2004 and home of the largest marine national park in Indonesia, Cenderawasih Bay, and a part of the (province) of Indonesia formerly called ‘Irian Jaya’. Renowned for its biodiversity, Raja Ampat encompasses over 40,000 square kilometres in the northeast seas of the

96 YACHTING MATTERS & THE YACHT OWNER ISSUE 34 Indonesian Archipelago where the Pacific becomes the . The resulting currents stir up nutrient-rich water in the tropical climate, nurturing magnificent coral reefs and unparalleled marine life. Each of the islands – from the stark wave-pounded slopes that drop away beneath the karst cliffs of Wayag and Uranie to the deep, nutrient-rich bays of Mayalibit, Kabui and Aljui, to the ‘blue water mangrove’ channels of Kofiau and Gam, to the plankton-rich upwelling areas of Misool and the Dampier Strait – are home to unique assemblages of species that together add up to produce the most impressive species lists ever compiled for a system of this size. Yacht visitors will find a culture unique in the world that is home to the planet’s most diverse fish and coral resources. A cruising journey through Raja Ampat takes you through one of the world’s most exceptional marine areas with stunning sea and land scenes. ‘This place, Raja Ampat, is truly amazing – the diversity of activities we can offer our guests combined with the natural beauty and friendly people make Raja Ampat the perfect

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Seamless Support - Best Local Knowledge

include a visit to North and West Waigeo where, if you’re lucky, you can see a traditional bamboo flute (suling tambur) performance. These performances usually take place during a religious festival, on YACHTS SERVICED IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION: Independence Day (August 17), and during visits from important officials or leaders. M/Y A M/Y KARIMA M/Y TALISMAN C S/Y MONTIGNE There’s interesting viewing of World War II M/Y ANNA M/Y LADY CHRISTINE M/Y TANGO S/Y PERSEUS M/Y APRIL M/Y LE GRAND BLEU M/Y TITANIA S/Y RED DRAGON caves on North Waigeo, where the Dutch and the M/Y AQUAMARINA M/Y MAYAN QUEEN M/Y TRIPLE 8 S/Y SHENANDOAH Japanese armies built bunkers, and continues to be M/Y ARCHIMEDES M/Y NOBLE HOUSE M/Y ULYSSES S/Y SQUALL MY CALLISTO M/Y OCEAN VICTORY M/Y WERE DREAMS S/Y THAILIA a place that local tribes will sometimes gather to M/Y CLOUD 9 M/Y PARTY GIRL S/Y ADELE S/Y VENT DEST perform a war dance. M/Y ECSTASEA M/Y PELORUS S/Y BELLA REGAZZA S/Y VERTIGO MY ELANDESS M/Y QUEEN MIRI S/Y BRISTOLIAN S/Y VIVID Another ancient attraction can be found on M/Y FAMILY DAY M/Y SAMAX S/Y EOS S/Y YANNEKE TOO Tomolol, home of numerous caves with paintings M/Y HELIOS 2 M/Y SENSES S/Y GALAXIA M/Y KALIZMA M/Y SILVER FAST S/Y HEMISPHERE of huge humans, palms and animals that are painted by ancient cave dwellers and are still OUR OFFICES: in existence today. Nearby is the ever-flowing

waterfall of Salawati… a sight not to be missed ANDAMAN ISLANDS KOH SAMUI, THAILAND PHUKET, THAILAND before departing the area. rathnam@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com charlie@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com gordon@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com

An interesting natural phenomenon can be BORNEO LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA RAJA AMPAT jblee@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com TOP: cruising location for us. We love the place!’ happily noted a seen every year-end in front of the Urbinasopen and Yesner villages borneo@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com scott@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com SOUTH WAIGEO captain of a well-known 50 ft superyacht to Richard Lofthouse. if you visit East Waigeo. A light comes out from the ocean CAMBODIA MALDIVES SEYCHELLES seychelles@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com ABOVE: and wanders around on its surface for about 10 –18 minutes, kevint@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com mohamed@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com KABUI BAY CRUISING DESTINATIONS IN RAJA AMPAT then disappearing and only to be seen again at the following FIJI MYANMAR SINGAPORE david@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com jojo@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com clarence@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com Waisai is the capital city of Raja Ampat and located on Waigeo year-end. Local inhabitants in both villages call this phenomenon, SRI LANKA Island. To get a sense of Raja Ampat history, other land attractions the ‘Sea Ghost’. HONG KONG NEW ZEALAND hongkong@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com duthie@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com priyantha@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com

INDONESIA PHILIPPINES jblee@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com philipines@asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com

98 YACHTING MATTERS & THE YACHT OWNER ISSUE 34 www.asia-pacifi c-superyachts.com CRUISING RAJA AMPAT

ABOVE: South Waigeo is a favourite destination for diving EXPERIENCING THE WONDER OF DIVING enthusiasts and not far from South Waigeo is atoll Kabui Bay. Also AT RAJA AMPAT recommended is Saonek Monde, famous for its exotic beaches

RIGHT: and underwater beauty, fishing and stunning sunsets. Similar to HIGH QUALITY PEARLS CAN BE BOUGHT Wayag, the island has a distinct beauty and Salay dancing can DURING YOUR CRUISE often be viewed. Many types of birds can be viewed in the villages OF THE AREA of Sawinggrai and Yenwaupnor. BELOW: THE FAMOUS Beautiful woven handicrafts are offered in Arborek, also a SEA TURTLE good place for snorkeling and for watching groups of swimming stingrays. Then if you continue to the Sawandarek area, there’s a white sand beach with beautiful coral, many sea ducks and other animals and just down the road you’ll discover a traditional village.

On the West side of Waigeo, on Konfiau and Batanta, is the archipelago Wayag with good diving and snorkelling and gorgeous cruising waters. These small, uninhabited and incredibly picturesque islands, 30 km beyond Waigeo, also attract non-divers for its scenery, snorkelling and the challenge of scaling its highest peak, Pindito. Exotic locations like the Ayau Islands, a collection of islands within a very large atoll, are numerous and just waiting to be explored. Many of the islands in this archipelago offer an expanse of white sand with a white sandy sea bottom that connects Ayau Island with other islands. Not far from the sands are ‘special sands’ that the local community calls ‘zandplaat’, a unique habitat of local vegetation in Raja Ampat. Here you can also see the local community, especially mothers and their children, as they continue a long tradition of catching sea-worms or ‘insonem’.

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office in Raja Ampat. APS Indonesia was the first company to LEFT: SOME OF THE MANY offer specialist superyacht shore support in the vast archipelago of SPECIES OF FISH AND CORAL THAT CAN BE Indonesia; now they are the first to open an office in the amazing SEEN WHEN DIVING Raja Ampat area (in 2017) which is supported by their HQ in Bali. BELOW LEFT: ‘This is a huge but logical step for us’ said Lofthouse, ‘The A CENDRAWASIH – BETTER KNOWN AS THE team we have up in Raja Ampat has years of experience with ‘BIRD OF PARADISE’ us around Indonesia and all are originally from the area, which gives us a massive advantage in local knowledge and a strong operational presence on the ground.’ ‘The feedback we at APS Indonesia get from the diving in Raja Ampat starts at ‘breathtaking’ and ends when our clients run out of superlatives! All of our clients, both owners and captains, rave about their Raja Ampat experience’, reports Richard Lofthouse. A main attraction of Raja Ampat is the seascape that reveals the most bio-diverse coral reefs in the world. Diving the many sites of Raja Ampat is an otherworldly experience where you can view over 1300 species of fish and 603 species of hard coral, which includes 75% of all known coral species in the world (and 10 times the number of hard coral species found in the Caribbean) along with a known 57 species of mantis shrimp and 15 mammal species.

ABOVE WATER Above water is fantastic as well; islands cloaked in tropical jungle filled with unique flora and fauna, karst forests of rare orchids, sea eagles, tree kangaroos and beautiful birds. Being located right on the equator, the Raja Ampat islands boasts amazing natural rainforests and thousands of species A suggestion by the APS team and said to be a big hit with of birds, highlighted by the much sought after Cendrawasih, or their guests is a visit to ‘The Pearl Farms’ by Atlas Pearls, located in better known as the ‘Bird of Paradise’. the Alyui Bay area. There you will find some of the highest quality ‘After having the privilege of guiding boats through Raja pearls in the world and a great showroom where pearls can Ampat, I can honestly say it is my favourite destination in be purchased. Indonesia to cruise. The jungle, the people, and of course the seaways are magnificent. It is a challenge to service boats in this RAJA AMPAT – APS BRANCH OFFICE remote part of the world but through persistence we have all the Supporting visiting yachts and perfectly fitting in to luxury and logistics and systems in place to provide everything our clients superyacht cruising is Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia branch need’, notes APS Indonesia co-founder, Captain Jimmy Blee.

Fast, friendly & efficient service: yacht agent, bunkers, VAT importation, electronics, rigging etc.

SILVER JUBILEE – CELEBRATING 25 AMAZING YEARS SERVING THE INDUSTRY!

YACHTING MATTERS & THE YACHT OWNER 101 ISSUE 34 Ahoy There! Is there anybody out there that fits the following description? If so then please contact me.

Are you a single gentleman, maybe a widower? Are you the owner of a large sail or power yacht? Would you like to share your lifestyle with a female partner over 60 years of age? Raja Ampat is a pristine paradise where Mother Nature Are you looking to find a best friend in a new acquaintance? and warm friendly people will welcome you to all the exceptional I am a 62 year old English widow with no children and no ties. wonders of the islands-regency in West Papua Province. With all I am 5’4” tall with grey/blonde hair and a well-rounded figure. the spectacular wonders above and beyond its waters, as well I enjoy gourmet food, good wine and the finer things in life as on land and amidst the thick jungles, this is truly a place of that success brings. I want to enjoy my retirement to the full beauty, enchantment, magnificence and fascination. with fun, laughter, music, song, dance, entertainment and more. Only the right partner can help make my dreams, and theirs, come true. ‘TOP GUN’ GUIDES FROM APS I am looking for a generous partner who will give me Captain Jimmy has lived in the area for several decades and suggests friendship and kindness and share with me a lifestyle that serious consideration be given to having an on-board guide. suits my needs and desires. The skills of the on board guide again come forward here I have my own company but I am nearing retirement and do not want to be lonely or bored in the years that lie ahead. to deal with problems on the captain’s behalf and in an I would like to spend those years living on a large yacht with empathetic and culturally effective manner, which is in addition a suitable partner who is the owner and maybe captain of to the special guide’s wealth of knowledge of the dive areas. As the vessel also. an example, Captain Jimmy says, ‘While cruising in some waters, I have a large wardrobe of clothes etc which I wish to have on board with me and I want to live and travel in style, or at least local customs / laws might mean that villages actually own the to the style I have become accustomed to on land. water rights to their areas up to three miles off shore. The on I do not particularly need to travel far as I have had a life of board guide will skillfully negotiate in these matters if and when adventure. I would be quite happy just gently cruising around they come up’. somewhere nice, safe and warm, with a partner that wants me with him and to share a life together… that would be perfect! ‘It is one thing to have the pre-planned cruising If you feel that you fit all of the descriptions then itinerary we work together with captains to produce before they please contact: [email protected] or arrive; however, to ensure the owners and guests’ trip goes off [email protected] with a high level of satisfaction, along with meeting the fine details required in viewing and activities in the best locations, A sincere response to my request would be appreciated. it is highly beneficial to have an on-board professional guide’, adds Lofthouse.

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ABOVE: CLIMATE CONDITIONS can rarely find anywhere else on earth, Raja Ampat truly offers LOCAL CHILDREN The best time to visit Raja Ampat is during the dry October-April the ultimate cruising experience. ON ONE OF THE IDYLLIC BEACHES period, which is by contrast the rainiest period in western and To those who appreciate beauty in every sense, Raja OPPOSITE PAGE: central Indonesia. Ampat waits to welcome you to Indonesia’s jewel and ‘Heaven CAPTAIN JIMMY BLEE Due to the tropical climate of Raja Ampat rain and showers on Earth’. SURVEYS THE VIEWS ACROSS BANDA AND can be unpredictable, and of course, much less frequent during To view a fantastic video of cruising in Raja Ampat click to: TESTS THE WATERS OF RAJA AMPAT… the dry season. It is still feasible to travel in other seasons, but https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KIFycuMAxo >|| ITS A TOUGH JOB, the weather is often a toss-up as you can be under the sunshine BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT! while it is raining just past the horizon. Temperatures remain consistent throughout the year, averaging 25-32° Celsius, but humidity may make it feel hotter. To learn more about a custom Raja Ampat itinerary and for With all its spectacular wonders inland, on the shore, on further information email [email protected] and beyond the waters, and distinct serene ambience that one and visit the website www.asia-pacific-superyachts.com

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