Sailing Indonesia's Phinisi: A Journey Through Komodo National Park

A travel feature in Vogue details a five-day voyage aboard Lamima, Indonesia's largest phinisi, a traditional two-masted wooden sailboat, through Komodo National Park. The trip, organized by luxury tour operator Kensington as part of its nine-day Ultraluxe Indonesian Odyssey, highlights the growing popularity of phinisi charters in Indonesia. Lamima, handcrafted from 2011 to 2014 using local teak and ironwood, accommodates up to 14 guests with a crew of 20, offering amenities such as a dedicated chef, private yoga instructor, watersports guides, and an open-air spa. The itinerary included visits to islands like Gili Lawa Laut, Rinca, Sangeang, and Mawan, with activities such as snorkeling with manta rays, sunset hikes, and a private beach club. The article also notes the cultural significance of phinisi boatbuilding, which was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2017, and the increase in tourist phinisis from about five twenty years ago to over 500 today, as noted by Lamima's cruise director Ali Murtadlo. Kensington's Vice President Edita Sgovio explained that the new Indonesian adventure was launched due to growing demand for off-the-beaten-path yachting destinations. The author reflects on the experience as a form of 'subtraction' and quotes Lamima's captain Ivan Ranggawulan on his love for remote places.