SILOLONA

SILOLONA was arguably the world's first luxury phinisi. Commissioned by American Patti Seery, who spent 35 years in Indonesia and was formally inducted into Papua's Dani tribe, she was hand-built over four years by the Konjo boatbuilders of Ara village in South Sulawesi: ironwood hull, teak superstructure, traditional phinisi construction to German Lloyds specifications. Michael Kasten (Kasten Marine) drew the naval architecture. She launched in Bali in 2004.

Ten guests in five en-suite cabins. Three king-size master suites with private lounge areas, plus a queen double and a twin. The interiors are Seery's personal collection: Indonesian textiles, hand-carved beams, woven mats, and artefacts gathered across the archipelago over decades. Crew of 17, including PADI-certified dive instructors.

The dive operation is serious: a licensed PADI centre with 20 tanks, two Schiffauer compressors, and three full-size tenders for dive transfers. Komodo from Labuan Bajo in summer, Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands from Ambon in winter. She also carries kayaks, SUPs, wakeboard, water skis (adult and kids), kneeboard, tube, snorkel gear, and fishing equipment.

Patti Seery passed away in 2020. Her son Tresno, a US-trained naval architect, now runs Silolona Sojourns. Sister ship Si Datu Bua (40m, 2012) charters alongside for groups up to 16.

The yacht that started Indonesia's phinisi charter industry, still run by the family that commissioned her.