A journey through the Indonesian archipelago

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In today’s newsletter:

• Top story: Indonesia at its own pace: A journey through the archipelago

• Charter Updates: Charter onboard Rose d’Or | New CA for 30m Alberry | Alfa G for charter in the Caribbean | 59m Treehouse for charter in Thailand | 126 m Octopus returns to Antarctica | 63m Apogee for charter

• Superyacht Spotlight: Preparing an Atlantic crossing

TOP STORY

Indonesia at its own pace: A journey through the archipelago

As Indonesia kicks off her cruising season, lasting from October to April, Andrea Pefianco takes us on a journey of exploring the Indonesian Archipelago onboard the phinisi Dunia Baru.

There is an expression in Bahasa Indonesia that is perhaps best experienced rather than translated: santai-santai. It describes an unhurried approach to life – taking things as they come and making time to surrender to the moment.

Indonesia is home to more than 17,000 islands and some of the world’s most remarkable cruising grounds. Sailing through the archipelago, especially onboard a traditional phinisi the likes of the 51-metre Dunia Baru, the spirit of santai can be properly experienced.

“In my view, exploring Indonesia in a phinisi is the only way to do it”, shares Carl Philippe Rousse, Onboard Cruise Director on Dunia Baru. “Nothing else compares. You feel part of the environment rather than an observer passing through it. There is also something about a phinisi that makes you slow down; the journey becomes part of the experience.

A vessel shaped by tradition

That philosophy is also reflected in the way Dunia Baru was built. Long before phinisi became popular as charter and expedition vessels, these traditional wooden sailing boats were part of everyday life across the Indonesian archipelago, where fishing and seafaring have shaped coastal communities for centuries.

Phinisi construction developed without formal blueprints, relying instead on generations of accumulated knowledge and craftsmanship. In Dunia Baru’s case, the vessel was built over eight years by Konjo boatbuilders in South Sulawesi, primarily using the exceptionally durable Borneo ulin ironwood.

“So much of the craft lies in an extraordinary understanding of timber: how each piece of wood will behave, how it should be shaped and joined, and how the whole vessel will move once she is in the water.”

Carl explained that this knowledge is passed down through generations, shaped by the trained hands and eyes of the builders. The importance of this traditional knowledge was recognised in 2017, when the traditional wooden boatbuilding techniques of the Bugis-Makassar people of South Sulawesi were inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

“The human touch is everywhere. Walk around Dunia Baru and you see curves, joints and carvings that were quite literally shaped by hand. No expense is spared to ensure she is kept in optimal shape.”

The people behind the experience

Such a unique piece of craftsmanship requires an equally dedicated team to look after her. Several of the craftsmen involved in Dunia Baru’s construction remain part of the wider team today, bringing first-hand knowledge of the yacht to her ongoing maintenance. Their involvement dates back to the earliest stages of the project, helping preserve the details and character established during her build.

“Our people are Dunia Baru’s greatest asset.” Behind the relaxed experience guests enjoy while cruising through the archipelago is a team working to make that experience feel effortless.

Carl highlighted the level of preparation that goes into each charter. With around 120 charters taking place each year, the team works behind the scenes to ensure everything is in place before guests arrive. From adapting to changes in weather and coordinating activities to handling the many logistical details involved in a charter, the aim is to ensure that guests never have to see the complexity behind their experience.

“When everything is working properly, all they experience is someone saying, ‘Would you like to go diving this morning?’ or ‘We thought this would be a beautiful place for lunch’ – without ever having to think about the dozens of things that made it possible.”

That thoughtfulness comes from more than simply following service procedures. The crew’s attentiveness is rooted in a genuine understanding of the guests and pride in their work. The best hospitality, Carl explained, comes from noticing the small details, from remembering how a guest takes their coffee to where they like to sit on deck or which activities capture their interest.

For guests, this translates into an experience that feels personal and spontaneous, even though it is supported by considerable preparation and coordination behind the scenes.

Into the Indonesian archipelago

All of this comes together once Dunia Baru leaves the harbour. The vessel, her crew and the landscapes of Indonesia become part of a single experience, with santai at its heart and each charter shaped by where guests choose to travel and how they want to spend their time.

“The diversity above and below the water is so extraordinary that no two charters feel the same. One day guests might be trekking to see Komodo dragons; the next, diving a pristine reef, surfing, birdwatching, visiting a village, or finding a deserted beach for lunch.”

The Dunia Baru team has developed a series of journeys across the archipelago, from the Lesser Sunda Islands and Alor to Maluku, West Papua and Palau.

A voyage from Alor to Komodo, combines encounters with local communities and Indonesia’s wildlife, from visiting the Abui community at Takpala Village to searching for Komodo dragons in the national park.

In Raja Ampat, guests can look beyond its renowned reefs to explore the forests of Waigeo, Gam and Batanta in search of birds-of-paradise and other endemic species. 

With such extraordinary biodiversity across the regions Dunia Baru visits, Carl emphasised the importance of experiencing these environments without compromising them. “The philosophy we share onboard is simple: we are visitors in these animals' habitats. Our role is to observe and appreciate, not to interfere.”

The onboard team briefs guests before each excursion, explaining not only how to interact responsibly with the environment, but why these practices matter. He emphasised that understanding can deepen the experience: the more guests learn about what they are seeing, the more meaningful their encounters become. Education and extraordinary experiences, he believes, can go hand in hand.

The best of both worlds

Onboard Dunia Baru guests can enjoy the comforts of a modern superyacht while remaining closely connected to the vessel's - and region’s -  heritage, including the landscapes around them and the slower pace of santai. It is the balance between these two sides that makes the experience distinctive. 

As Carl concluded, “I hope guests don’t only remember Dunia Baru simply as ‘a beautiful yacht.’ I want them to remember a feeling they couldn't recreate anywhere else – the character of a handmade wooden vessel, the warmth of the team onboard, the landscape around them, the sense of adventure.”

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