KUCHING, 5 September 2018: The Sarawak Regatta – Kuching Waterfront Festival 2018 is on its mark and ready to go at the starter’s gun, 26 October to 4 November.
The regatta itself will take place along a 1.3 km stretch of the Sarawak River in the heart of Kuching’s downtown waterfront with its famous riverside boulevard hosting local food, souvenir markets, cultural stage and performances.
For visitors this is the best time to enjoy Kuching’s waterfront district and watch a colourful regatta linked to the town’s vibrant maritime history.
The entire town centre is a hive of activity and festivities during the regatta making a stay a memorable travel experience.
Sarawak Tourism Board is promoting the event through its latest Hornbill Newsletter edition emailed to travel partners and overseas tour operators this week.
According to the newsletter, the annual event showcases longboat races with participation from various government agencies, the private sector and also participants from villages and longhouses throughout Sarawak as well as boaters from neighbouring Indonesia and Brunei.
The coveted grand prize is the “Raja Sungai” or King of the River title, with teams of 30 paddlers cutting through the Sarawak River at breakneck speeds to vie for the victor’s crown.
James Brooke, the founding White Rajah, is credited with introducing the Sarawak Regatta in 1872. The British Brooke family ruled as monarchs of the Kingdom of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946.
During the long colonial-style rule led by the Brooke family the annual river regatta was designed to discourage racial wars and headhunting through the diversion of competitive sports. The races helped to project the power and strength of the different longhouses communities, while weaning them off the need to engage in tribal battles.
(Source: Hornbill Newsletter)
For more stories featured in Sarawak’s Hornbill Trail Newsletter May edition visit:
