Construction and Design Parameters

The construction followed age old and well established design principles. First, traditional methods were use to determine the final dimensions of the ship. Throughout Asia the Buginese people from the island of Sulawesi are well- known for their shipbuilding skills and what is most remarkable is that this huge hand made structure (36m length, a beam of 10m and a draft of 3,5 m) was made without any drawings, fully relying on the intuitive craftsmanship of its builders as passed along through many generations. A Dutch naval architect was hired to recalculate and verify all dimensions for ultimate seaworthiness. He designed the interior and the deck house.

A second design principle we insisted upon was that we wanted the ship to be as safe as possible. This meant that only first quality timber was used and therefore the hull is considerably thicker than most other wooden vessels (ranging from 10cm down below to 6cm near the deck). The entire hull from the keel up to the decklevel was made from carefully selected and seasoned ironwood (ulin). Other safety measures include a 'work horse' Detroit Diesel engine, a brand that has proven its durability and reliability over the last fifty years (most ships of the US Navy have Detroit Diesel engines), anchor chains instead of wire rope, and many safety features demanded by the Australian coast guard for ocean going vessels.

A third design principle was that we wanted ample space for both guests and crew. We designed and built a large deckhouse that was low enough to maintain the original sail plan, while still providing sufficient sleeping and living quarters for the crew. There is a spacious lounge and a large galley. Behind the bridge on top of the deck house, there is a large sun deck, partly covered by an awning to also provide some necessary shade under the tropical sun.