Revisited Sibu -Rejang Regatta.

Rejang River Regatta: Kenyalang boat race is back

SIBU: After a lapse of 20 years, the Kenyalang boat race will be revived at the upcoming Rejang River Regatta on March 13 and 14 at the confluence of the Rejang and Igan rivers.

The race was last held here in 1990.

Each of the racing boats has the capacity for 20 people – 18 paddlers, one navigator and a drummer – and is distinctively decorated with a kenyalang (hornbill in Iban) head at the front.

Ten boats costing RM30,000 each are being built for the event expected to attract 200 participants from Sarawak and possibly Indonesia as well.

The two-day event will also see power boat races in five categories with 35 teams expected from Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei.

The regatta is jointly organised by Rajang Port Authority and MC Events Management to promote Sibu as a centre for water sports in Sarawak. The organisers hope to hold the event annually.

“I hope it will elevate Sibu into a centre for water sports as envisaged by Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud,” said Sarawak Second Finance Minister and Minister of Environment and Public Health Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh.

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I have a chance to witness the regatta on the second day .At first the weather was cloudy in the morning and soon after that it was hot and humid .Not to mention the crowd its was as early as 07:00 am they already try to look for a better view for the event that only started at 10:00 am. Perhaps the venue Sibu waterfront phase two was not suitable for the water sport and my observation was that the crowd was not only from Sibu town and many are from small town like Kapit,Kanowit ,Igan and Dalat.Not to mention some are villagers from small fishing village along Igan and Rajang river and even some are from as far as Brunei and Sabah.

I can't even find the suitable position to photograph the event,further more in the afternoon its was heavy rain at 01:30pm that last until 04:00pm.

So below some of the photograph that I manage to shoot (point & shoot version).

Anyway let's the pictures tell the story.

I position myself quite far from the big crowds .

The big crowds here only manage to see the starting point of the power boat event.

What choice do they have?.standing at the bush or at the crowded water front.

Look at the big crowds ..they cannot see the event ,they only hear the blasting sound of the power boat and the commentator of the event.

Its seem that they don't mind about the muddy place as long as they have fun............

and perhaps this is not fun....so Safety First.

If Sibu wish to become a centre for water sports I hope the next event must be a crowds friendly venue.

See you next year and hoping very much for the best.