As an island nation, the ancestors of Indonesia have long crafted ways to navigate across the vast bodies of water that divide the nation’s archipelago. The need to cross the oceans has inspired these peoples to innovate and create their own way to make boats – introducing the Phinisi Schooner. We’ll be talking about the origins and history of this cultural tradition in this article.
The Phinisi-Schooner
The phinisi, also called the pinisi, is a term that refers to a style or configuration of the masts, sails and ropes implemented in Indonesian Sailing vessels.
The name itself is believed to come from the word picuru (meaning a good example), and binisi (a type of small, tough and agile fish). The schooner designation refers to the way the sails are arranged along the center, resembling that of western schooners. It started when Indonesian sailors and shipbuilders in the 19th century began integrating the phinisi rig into the western schooner, with the first known phinisi-schooner built in 1906.
In terms of design, the phinisi originates from the seafaring traditions of the ethnic group in South Sulawesi known as the Bugis. The phinisi today are still widely used for cargo, fishing, and timber transport between the island of Java and Kalimantan. They are also a popular sailing vessel for diving liveaboards due to the heritage and history they hold.
UNESCO Cultural Heritage
Speaking of heritage, on December 7, 2017, the Phinisi art of boat-making was inducted into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The induction occurred on the 12th session of the Unique Cultural Heritage Committee as a way to officially recognize and preserve this iconic Indonesian craftmanship.
Calico Jack the Vessel
Calico Jack’s own vessel is a beautiful 30 meters of wooden schooner designed using the same traditional principles of phinisi. What differentiates our vessel is the interior that has been specially designed to maximize comfort, utility and functionality for the crew and passengers of Calico Jack. Fitted with modern amenities such as air conditioning, hot water, private bathrooms and other amenities to ensure the wellbeing of all our passengers.
Are you ready to set sail and explore the Indonesian Archipelago? Contact us at Calico Jack Charters to learn more!
