DUNIA BARU

Sailing has always been one of the best ways to enjoy a slow, meaningful sojourn, and few are as spectacular as Dunia Baru (its name meaning “the new world” in Bahasa Indonesia), a superyacht that weaves through Southeast Asia’s spellbinding islands.

The 51-m long, two-masted luxury yacht has been brought back to its former glory by its Singaporean owners, who commissioned Deirdre Renniers—interior designer of the Aman private yacht Amandira—to refurbish the traditional vessel. Built from teak and rare ulin ironwood, Dunia Baru was originally handcrafted in the classic architecture of phinisi wooden sailboats by an ancient tribe of boat builders in South Sulawesi called the Konjo. Every detail has been lovingly restored, resulting in a vessel that embodies the old-world romance of sailing but sporting modern amenities suited to multi-generational travellers.

Housing up to 14 guests, Dunia Baru sails on bespoke itineraries set mostly in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Guests can snorkel in the Banda Archipelago, encounter Komodo dragons at the Komodo National Park, and spot hammerhead sharks and manta rays around Kisar Island. Apart from traversing the rich waters of the Indonesian archipelago, it can also be chartered for longer expeditions to Thailand and Myanmar.