Dennis Ngau
MARUDI: Ten teams, including those from outside Sarawak, have confirmed their participation in Baram Regatta 2017 here, scheduled to run from Aug 25 to 27.
These groups are expected to bring along over 40 boats for the event, which was last held in 2014.
According to Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, several local residents, including longhouse villagers, are offering their houses for the participants and visitors to stay at.
“This is being compiled by Marudi District Office. We foresee no problem with accommodation during the regatta,” said Dennis, who is also deputy organising chairman in charge of event’s technical committee, recently.
It is said the regatta began 111 years ago to mark the peace treaty between the warring tribes across the Baram River basin.
Thirty events have been proposed for this year’s regatta including the traditional boat race, speedboat, pump boat and remote-controlled (RC) boat races, as well as the new mixed paddling event.
For this year, the organiser has added the ‘Baram Closed’ category slated exclusively for participants from this area.
“In previous editions, the response from teams or longhouses from Baram was not very encouraging due to the stiff competition from outsiders. They (locals) were reluctant as they felt that they could not compete against the better-prepared teams from outside Baram.
“This year, however, we expect to receive more teams from Baram,” said Dennis.
On a matter related to the regatta in terms of transportation, the assemblyman said efforts are been made to address the pothole-riddled Miri-Marudi Road, through partial tar-sealing works.
He also said the committee proposed for extra express boat return trips between Marudi and Kuala Baram from Aug 21 to 28, as well as additional MASwings flights throughout the duration of the regatta.