SAIL MALAYSIA PASSAGE TO THE LANGKAWI 2018 PRE-ENTRY INFORMATION Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION Welcome to Sail Malaysia! Our sponsors Purpose of this document Organiser Contact Details Rally start II. RALLY ENTRY How to Register Entry Costs III. RALLY DETAILS Rally Schedule Important Rally Information IV. ENTERING MALAYSIA Immigration Entering Malaysia by Sea Customs Health and Vaccination Insurance V. VISITING MALAYSIA (SOME FACTS) VI. REFERENCES VII. AFTER THE RALLY Getting Around Other Events Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 1 of 17
I. INTRODUCTION Welcome to Sail Malaysia! Malaysia is situated between 1 and 7 degrees north and has traditionally been the centre of regional trade due to its strategic location. Recently, with the growing number of marinas, the country is fast becoming accessible to cruisers and no longer just a place to just pass by. Our objective in this event is to help you Discover Malaysia by Sea. Although west coast of Peninsula Malaysia has been well documented over the years, with Sail Malaysia, you will be able quickly familiarize the region as well as getting to know the locals hosts on a more enjoyable and personable manner. We realize that since this may be your first visit to our country by sea. We hope to introduce you to the people, marine facilities and of course the beauty and heritage of each rally destination that you may otherwise miss if you were to do it individually. Traveling in Malaysia is hassle-free and convenient. The destinations that you will visit are easily accessible by air for receiving friends and family. Malaysia is also the perfect base for travel around this region as well as travelling back home. Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 2 of 17
Sail Malaysia welcomes you to the rally stops, where you will be showered with a warm Malaysian style welcome. We intend to introduce you to at least 4 destinations, from Johor Bahru to Langkawi. There is so much to look forward to. The journey is as much about self discovery as it is about visiting our friendly hosts. As a continuation to the above event, please look out for the Sail Thailand and Sail Malaysia Passage to the East Yacht Rally where we take you eastwards from Langkawi to eastern Borneo. We wish to thank Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board, the respective State Governments and sponsors for their advice, direction and support in helping us to establish this event annually. This event is part of our efforts to promote marine tourism in Malaysia and we invite all sailors to join the Sail Malaysia Passage to the Langkawi and Discover Malaysia by Sea! Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 3 of 17
MAIN SUPPORTERS MINISTRY OF TOURISM & CULTURE OF MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD RALLY PARTNERS OUR RALLY HOSTS Puteri Harbour Marina Negeri Sembilan Tourism Admiral Marina Port Dickson Selangor Tourism Perak Tourism Rebak Marina Langkawi Telaga Harbour Marina Langkawi Royal Langkawi Yacht Club MATTA SUPPORTERS Marine Department of Malaysia Immigration Department of Malaysia Royal Malaysian Customs Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency Royal Malaysian Police Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 4 of 17
Purpose of This Document This Pre-Entry Information Booklet is intended to provide interested 2018 participants with a general overview of the event and what to expect. This document also comes attached with the entry form. The details contained in this document and the website www.sailmalaysia.net is the OFFICIAL information published by Sail Malaysia. Regular updates about the event will be posted on the website and sent via email to interested parties on the mailing list. Organiser Contact Details The Sail Malaysia Passage to Langkawi is owned and managed by SM Yachting Sdn. Bhd. (1184863-V), a private limited company registered in Malaysia. All correspondence to the organizers of Sail Malaysia should be directed via email to mail@sailmalaysia.net (Attn: Sazli). FOR EASY REFERENCE, PLEASE INCLUDE THE NAME OF YOUR YACHT IN THE SUBJECT SECTION OF YOUR EMAILS. If you wish to find alternative means to contact us, please email us for the request. Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 5 of 17
RALLY START (IMPORTANT) CONFIRMED The start of the rally will begin in PUTERI HARBOUR MARINA, JOHOR (01 25.12N 103 39.49E) 10 NOVEMBER 2018 Registration & Goodies Collection Time: 2 pm Technical Briefing starts at 4 pm. Venue: Puteri Harbour Marina reception area Key Dates prior to the Malaysian leg Sail Malaysia representatives will be at these locations to assist you with any queries regarding your stay in Malaysia. i. 30-31 June in Cairns, Australia with Wonderful Sail2Indonesia ii. 24-26 September with Sail Indonesia, Sail2Indonesia & Bali Reunion iii. (information is also given out to Sail Indonesia organisers for the brief on Tuesday, 24 July in Darwin, Australia) Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 6 of 17
II. RALLY ENTRY How to Register 1. The Registration Form will be attached when you receive this document. Alternatively the Registration Form will be available via our website as well as at our counters in Cairns, Darwin and Bali. 2. If you do not have access to or cannot download the registration form for any reason, all you have to do is text us the details of your yacht, skipper and crew, and communication (mobile) and send us via email. 3. Upon receiving your details, we deem that you have read and agreed to the details in this document. We shall confirm your participation in the rally once we receive the email. Entry Costs 1. A registration fee will be charged as below to cover our administrative expenses. a. Early Bird (before 31 Sept 2018) AUD 140 per yacht b. Normal fee (after Early Bird) AUD 160 per yacht THE FEE IS PAYABLE WHEN WE SEE YOU IN CAIRNS, BALI OR PUTERI HARBOUR MARINA AT THE START OF THE RALLY Note - the early bird applies to the time when we receive your email or registration form to confirm your participation. In return for the registration fee, we offer you the following benefits: i. Organised rally stops listed in the Rally Schedule. ii. Our commitment is to organise 4 rally stops for the Malaysian leg. Additional stops may arise. The list of expected activities per destination is listed below. Please note that this list is tentative, but it will be very close to what you will experience. iii. One Sail Malaysia Rally Flag iv. Two Sail Malaysia T-shirts v. Other souvenir and goodies provided to you by our hosts. Special discount by Pangkor Marina Island: 5 DAYS FREE WET BERTH, 50% DISCOUNT WET BERTH FOR BOOKINGS 2 MONTHS AND ABOVE (ADVANCE PAYMENT), 50% DISCOUNT FOR HARDSTAND BOOKINGS FOR 3 MONTHS AND ABOVE (ADVANCE PAYMENT). VALID FOR UP TO 2 YEARS FOR RALLY PARTICIPANTS!! Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 7 of 17
The following are not included in the registration fee: i. Marina costs ii. Port clearance fee and charges, if any. iii. Optional tours or events, such as paid excursions to Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh. These items will be classified as Optional in the Rally Schedule. Although chargeable, these activities are recommended. 2. Payment methods: i. The entry fee is payable in cash to Sail Malaysia representatives when you meet us. ii. If you wish to deposit money in advance, we can provide you our bank details via email. III. RALLY DETAILS Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 8 of 17
Rally Schedule 2018 Date Destination Coordinates 9-13 Nov Puteri Harbour Marina 01 25.12N 103 39.49E 16-18 Nov Melaka 21-23 Nov Admiral Marina Port Dickson 02 28.76N 101 50.68E 26-30 Nov Pangkor Marina Island 04º 12 N, 100 º 36 E 3-6 Dec Penang (bonus- not confirmed) 9-11 Dec Langkawi 06º 17'.48 N 99º 41'.70 E Langkawi Penang WEST COAST PENINSULA MALAYSIA Pangkor Port Dickson Melaka Puteri Habour The detailed itinerary is still being organized. Most importantly is the start of the event is on 10 November 2018. Follow up events: Sail Thailand Rally (Langkawi-Phuket) January 2018 Sail Malaysia Passage to the East Yacht Rally (Langkawi-Tawau) Apr-Aug 2018 Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 9 of 17
Important Rally Information: The notes below are relevant for the Sail Malaysia Passage to Langkawi registered participants only. A. INTRODUCTION 1. Malaysia. The Sail Malaysia Passage to Langkawi refers to the Malaysian leg of the Sail Indonesia/Sail2Indonesia - Sail Malaysia yacht rally. The rally stops and events in Malaysia are organised by us. 2. Organiser. Our role is to organize the rally stops for you in Malaysia and to coordinate with our friends in Southeast Asia and Australia/New Zealand on your journey within Malaysia. 3. Our objectives. The overall objective of this event is to introduce Malaysia by sea by organizing rally stops along the route and welcoming you with our Malaysian-style hospitality. In addition, our aim is also to create awareness among Malaysians about the cruising lifestyle. B. YOUR JOURNEY 1. Planning Your Journey. The west coast of Peninsula Malaysia is well documented and you can research your own material. Once you register with us in you will also receive the Sail Malaysia Cruising Guidebook containing useful information about the rally destinations. 2. Security. We will be sending the information given to us in the Registration Form to the Marine Department Royal Malaysian Marine Police solely for precautionary purposes. During the event period, we also recommend all participants to let us know of your travel plans if you do not intend to join us at the next designated rally stop. 3. Communication 1. Emails and our website will be the main form of communication. You will also be able to make enquiries to us at any of the rally stops. 4. Communication 2. A Vhf communication channel for the morning sked will be determined at the Rally Briefing in Puteri Harbour. 5. Customs and Immigration. Customs and immigration clearance in Malaysia is typically hassle-free. Notwithstanding that, we will advise you on the procedures of each stop at the technical briefing. 6. Marina Berthing. All yachts are required to communicate directly with the marinas to confirm bookings Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 10 of 17
C. ABOUT THE EVENT 1. Event Format. Free and Easy - although we encourage you to visit all the rally stops, you are free to pick and choose the stops that suit your schedule. 2. Rally Stops 1. The rally stops are listed above in the Rally Schedule. Each stop will contain a mixed bag of events, such as receptions, dinners, tours, games, activities, etc. The details are currently being finalized. 3. Rally Stops 2. You will find some amazing stops along the way and it is very tempting to stop and skip some of the others. However, we recommend that you plan to go to all of them as each destination contain a mixed bag of wonderful surprises and discoveries otherwise missed. 4. Press Conferences and Boat Visits. These activities will be included in this year s rally as part of our program to create awareness about the cruising lifestyle. These activities are optional and it is perfectly understandable if you do not wish to take part. Please do not hesitate to inform us and we will maintain strict privacy. Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 11 of 17
IV. ENTERING MALAYSIA Customs, Immigration and Port Clearance The Malaysian procedures for entry are fairly straightforward. Once you arrive in Puteri Harbour, the marina office will assist your clearing in normally within the same day. For more information about the above, please go to the respective websites below. Royal Malaysian Customs: www.customs.gov.my/index.php/en Immigration Department of Malaysia: www.imi.gov.my Marine Department: www.marine.gov.my/indexbi.htm Some points worth noting: Immigration (Visas) a. The majority of passport holders will have a 3 month visa issued on arrival. b. For details on Visa requirement by countries please visit the Official Immigration Department of Malaysia website (www.imi.gov.my). c. Passports will need to be valid for more than 6 months from the date of entry into Malaysia. Customs In short, customs procedures in Malaysia are straightforward. However, PLEASE OBSERVE THAT following items are strictly enforced in this country. 1. Dangerous Drugs. Dangerous drugs (eg. Morphine, heroin, opium, ganja, etc.) is prohibited from importation and exportation. THE TRAFFICKING OF DRUGS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. THE PUNISHMENT OF DRUG TRAFFICKING IS DEATH BY HANGING. Dangerous drugs can only be imported and/or exported with the approval of the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. 2. Firearms. Please be informed that the Malaysia has strict rules and regulations regarding firearms and ammunition. You must declare all firearms at the customs and immigration, which will be sealed, transported and kept at the local police station until the date of your departure. Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 12 of 17
For a comprehensive write up, please go to www.customs.gov.my and type in search, Traveller s Guide. The listing provided is probably too detailed for many of us to digest and if you have any queries it is useful to just call the department or email at the contacts described in their website. Health and Vaccination For a detailed overview of health considerations for travelers in Malaysia, please visit the following website: http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/asia/malaysia.html If you need medical assistance, public and private clinics and hospitals are abundant and affordable in Malaysia. Please check with the marina office for the one most convenient to you. Insurance Sail Malaysia does not provide insurance for rally participants. Insurance covering medical or emergencies is recommended if you don t already have one. V. VISITING MALAYSIA (SOME FACTS) Geography and People Total Area: 329,750 sq km Population: 32 million (2015 est.) Ethnic Groups: Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, Others 7.8% (2004 est.) Religion: Islam 60.4% (Official Religion), Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 13 of 17
Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census) Languages spoken: Bahasa Malaysia (Official Language), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai. In East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan For more details visit our website under Malaysia General Information. Climate Tropical: Hot and humid throughout the year. Annual winds: Southwest (April to October) and Northeast (October to February) monsoons Currency Only Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) is used. Money exhchange outlets are aplenty, especially around the rally stops. Credit cards are widely accepted (VISA, Mastercard, Diners, AMEX). Exchange rates (in Malaysia, as at June 2018) for selected currencies: Ringgit Malaysia per foreign currency: 1 USD 3.96 1 Australian Dollar 3.12 1 Euro 4.77 1 New Zealand Dollar 2.80 1 Sterling Pound 5.35 100 Indonesian Ruppiah 0.03 100 Thai Baht 12.4 Communication and Internet Service International Dial Code: 60 The general assessment for telephones, mobile phones and internet services are excellent in this country. There are 3 major mobile phone companies which offer pre-paid cards if you are visiting temporarily Maxis, Digi and Celcom. Cost per call will differ from one service provider to another. On average a local call (mobile to mobile) will cost around 10 sen (AUD 0.03) per minit. Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 14 of 17
Nationwide broadband wireless access can be obtained for around RM 60-100 per month and you can typically gain access if you anchor close to the coastline. Most marinas offer the wireless service at nominal costs. Electricity 220V 50Hz Medical Services Medical services in Malaysia are excellent. Public clinics and hospitals are located in every district, cheap and open to foreigners. Private clinics and hospitals are also plenty and prices tend to be affordable. A trip to the private clinic for example may cost you between RM 40 to 70. In case of emergency, you can contact the marina office where they can arrange a doctor to visit or an ambulance transfer in more serious circumstances. Laundry, food and provisioning Check with the marina offices for laundry facilities. Most marinas provide this service where they send your laundry to the local cleaners for you. A small fee may be imposed for this service. Estimated rate for cleaning at a local cleaner is usually between RM 3.00 - RM 5.00 (AUD 1.00 1.50) per kg for a normal laundry. Provisioning for food and beverage is not a problem in Malaysia. Western food and delicatessen are available in most towns and not expensive. Fuel docks or refueling services are available at most marinas. Dress Standards Malaysia is a progressively developing nation with a strong conservative influence. Here, you will see a diverse range of dressing among its population from the Muslim women covered from head to toe to the modern western-influenced outfits. You are free to dress as you please in Malaysia. Smart casual clothes are ideal when going out in public places. When visiting government offices and religious sites (mosques, temples, etc.) we recommend that you dress modestly and men to wear long trousers. Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 15 of 17
Shopping Shopping in Malaysia is a national past-time. Shopping malls and off the beaten track heritage shops are abundant. Most Malaysian women possess a black belt in shopping. So if you are in doubt where to go shopping, please feel free to enquire. VI. REFERENCES For references about our events and pictures please visit the Weblinks in our website, www.sailmalaysia.net and the Sail Malaysia Facebook. VII. AFTER THE RALLY Getting Around Malaysia is an ideal location as a long-term stopover. You can plan your excursions to other parts of the country or abroad without worry about the security of your boats or immigration (getting in and out of the country is hassle-free). The official Tourism Malaysia website, www.tourism.gov.my, is a fantastic place to you to find out more about what Malaysia has to offer. Other Events SAIL MALAYSIA PASSAGE TO THE EAST Starting May and ending in August 2019, this will be the 14 th edition of the yachting rally! Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 16 of 17
and when you are done visiting Sevenstar Yacht Transport offers transport services for your boats from Phuket to Turkey. Something to consider! Wishing everyone fair winds and a wonderful experience discovering Malaysia! --END Updated: 6/14/2018 Page 17 of 17