Kotabaru 2020 outrigger sailboat race to preserve ancient history

Kotabaru held the annual outrigger sailboat race which was opened by Regent H Sayed Jafar in Kerayaan Island, Saturday. (Antaranews Kalsel/ohi/Kotabaru PR)

This is the preservation of our ancient ancestors. Don't let our children not know the origin of katir race,

Kotabaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - One of the treasures of Kotabaru tourism is the outrigger sailboat (locally known as perahu katir) race was held on Saturday.

"This is the preservation of our ancient ancestors. Don't let our children not know the origin of katir race," said Regent Sayed Jafar as he opened the race in the Kerayaan Island Village, Pulaulaut Kepulauan Sub-district.

The sailboat outrigger race is only in Kotabaru, not in other places in South Kalimantan. So, it became a special attraction for tourists from outside to visit.

"Thus the agro-businesss can be touched, then the welfare of the community will increase," said the regent who was accompanied by Chairwoman of the Kotabaru Family Welfare Movement Driving Team (TP-PKK).

The 2020 sailboat outrigger race was held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Indonesia's Independence. The race was followed by 18 contestants in two categories, the big katir boat with 11 participants and te small katir boat with seven participants.

All contestants took a predetermined route, starting from Kerayaan Island to then circling Kerasian Island and finishing back at Kerayaan Island.

Head or the organizing committee Hamidi acknowledged that the fund for the raceh had actually been budgeted for in the 2020 village fund, but the fund was diverted to accellerate the containing of COVID-19.

"So, to keep the competition going, we use community self-supporting fund and donation from head of sub-districts and company," he said.

The implementation of the katir boat race was coupled with the handover of some social assistance, including to elderly, disabilities, house renovation, an ambulance, and additional funding for katirboat race from the regent personally.

The event was attended the official of the Kotabaru Naval Base, head of government agencies, DPRD members, sub-district head of Pulaulaut Kepulauan and the sub-district leaders communication forum (Forkopimca), head Subdistrict of Pulaulaut Selatan, head Subdistrict of Pulaulaut Tanjung Selayar, chiefs of villages in Pulaulaut Kepulauan, head of Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) and members, traditional leaders and community leaders, and invited guests.
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