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Forty competitors in 20 boats set sail at 7AM Wednesday to begin the first leg of the Lake Malawi International Yachting Marathon. The sail to Cape Maclear started smoothly in good wind accompanied by five rescue boats headed by South Africa Rob Newman — a 16-year veteran.
The marathon, which will end at Chintheche in Nkhata Bay on July 17, has attracted boats from South Africa (12), Ireland (4), Zimbabwe (1), England (1) and hosts Malawi (2).
Opening the marathon on Tuesday at Sun ‘N’ Sand Holiday Resort in Mangochi, Tourism, Parks and Wildlife Minister Wallace Chiume said the marathon has potential of enhancing other tourist attractions in the country.
The minister said the annual race is an important multifaceted event on the calendar of tourism activities in his ministry that needs proper organisation and promotion.
He told the more than 100 guests at the ceremony that apart from providing enjoyment to the competitors, the marathon also helps in the promotion of Malawi as a tourism destination abroad while raising funds to help the less privileged in the country.
But he noted that it’s not smooth sailing for his ministry.
“The event is faced with a number of challenges ranging from sponsorship to its promotion abroad. To this effect, my ministry would like the organisers and stakeholders to come together to explore ways of promotion because this is the only event that is organised specifically to bring in tourists,” he said.
He further said it is his belief that once the event is properly promoted, “It can add more value to the numerous tourists activities that are taking place in the country while at the same time attracting more and serious competitors to sail on the Lake of Stars”.
He then invited the participants to patronise the tourism attractions in the country and sample the hospitality of the Malawian people.
The minister, who thanked the competitors, sponsors and organisers for making it all happen, also asked for bigger and better sponsorship so that more less privileged people can be reached.
Sun ‘N’ Sand group general Manager Abdul Rashid said it was an honour for his company to host such a big international event.
“We are very proud. It’s an honour not only for Sun ‘N’ Sand but for the hole country,” said Rashid, whose company was hosting the event for the first time.
“It will help boost tourism in this country because if the competitors see the beauty, they will speak about it back home,” he added.
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