content
Media
July 27, 2010
Raja Laut Story: Part 3 (Wood, Glorious Wood)
The spirit of Raja Laut is here in Borneo and so are some of the worlds best hardwoods. The availability of the exceptional Borneo Ironwood (species name: Eusideroxylon Zwageri), known locally as Belian or Kayu Ulin, made the choice of wood easy. Belian is one of the worlds most durable woods: harder, heavier and more durable than Teak, Ebony, Mahogany or Iroko, and one of the most exceptionally naturally durable hardwood species in existence.
In the Australian Standards (AS 5604 2005) report on Timber Preservation and Durability, Belian achieved the highest durability ratings out of all the woods studied (including Burmese Teak). In the same report Belian was given a probable marine-borer-resistance life expectancy of 60+ years in southern waters (shorter in tropical waters). This resistance estimate is for untreated/unprotected timber, and we understood that with proper maintenance a well-built Belian hull would last for 100 years or more.
Other wood used in the construction include:
May 05, 2010
Raja Laut Story : Part 2 (The Nature of Wood)
Once the idea of building a boat is in your mind, probably one of the first thoughts that one obsesses over (obsession is pretty standard when it comes to boatbuilding) is what material do we want for the hull? After all, the hull is more than just the foundations of a boat – its the foundation, and the floor, and the walls.
And while boats can be built out of almost anything (one chap famously created a boat from recycled plastic bottles), the fact is that not all boat building materials were created equal.
Mother nature is not easily outdone by man, and she has created the supreme materials for boat building. Its called wood. Wood is THE material to use for a classic/traditional schooner (its traditional!), but more importantly wood is great to live with and on as it feels heavy, solid and safe, and as most sailors will tell you, no other material can beat the feel and ambiance of a wooden boat, especially a carvel-built one.
These are purely romantic reason, but the number of genuinely good, practical reasons for choosing wood are plentiful:
May 04, 2010
Raja Laut Story: Part 1 (The Story Of A Name)
Boat names have long been a subject of quayside conversations and often the stories behind a particular name are pretty interesting too - some are personal, some historical, and some are just humorous. And so for our series on the history and construction of Raja Laut, we can think of no better place to start than to talk about whats behind the name "Raja Laut".
The name "Raja Laut" means "King of the Seas" in Malay, and was chosen in hommage to the Malay Archipelago - the history, the people, the cultures. "Raja", itself a derivation of the hindustani for king, is an honorific title used in ancient times from Srivijaya to Malacca, Makassar to Ambon. The type of vessel, the name, and the whole region really captured our imagination. Much thanks certainly goes to the writing of Joseph Conrad - and one can easily envision the schooner carrying adventurers and traders in his depictions of the exotic East. There is also the portrait, in the Sarawak museum, of James Brooke's schooner "The Royalist", which has a very similar design to Raja Laut and which young Brooke had purchased in England and then sailed across the world to explore what was then known as the Malay Archipelago.
February 23, 2009
Villa & Yacht
September 17, 2008
Boat Review
News
September 05, 2009
Hanyut (Almayers Folly)
Last week we were thrilled to learn that a major movie production of Conrads first novel 'Almayers Folly', set in Borneo, is set to be released by producers Tanah Licin Sdn. Bhd. in collaboration with LeBrocquy Fraser!
The film is called 'Hanyut' (which in Malay means 'shipwrecked' or 'washed ashore').
More info on the up-coming movie can be found on the following website, www.lebrocquyfraser.com. In the meanwhile here is an extract from the LeBrocquy Fraser site:
---- Tanah licin Sdn Bhd is proud to bring Hanyut a movie based on Joseph Conrad's first novel 'Almayer's Folly' to the big screen. 'Hanyut' is set in Malaysia in the early 19th Century, this epic story combines adventure, drama, romance, conflict and suspense with a sense of history.
Featuring a cosmopolitan society of indigenous Malays, tribal aborigines, Europeans, Arabs, Indians and Chinese living and working together, it is a tale of personal tragedy set against a backdrop of stale and defective colonialism.
The project combines the skills and experience of leading Malaysian writer/ director U-Wei Bin HajiSaari ('Kaki Bakar' aka 'The Arsonist' - Un Certain Regard Cannes 1995) with an internationally recognized crew.
While the adaptations of Joseph Conrad's other stories have been interpreted from a predominantly Western point of view that exoticises the locals, the refreshing script of 'Hanyut' by U-Wei Bin HajiSaari helps to restore the balance. Local perspectives are intrinsic to the film, and women play a critical role.
In today's global village, the traditional 'white male' point of view is no longer the only acceptable one. Audiences will be more engaged by a film that realistically addresses multifaceted human relationships and the tenuous balance of power, helping us to better understand and break down the prejudices that exist in our world.
Director's Statement:
Hanyut (based on Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad) is a story about a cosmopolitan society living and working together along a riverbank somewhere in Malaysia. It attracted many sea travelers seeking opportunity and rewards.
It gives us a window into the Malay society in Borneo in the late 19th century: A highly competitive mix of indigenous Malays, tribal aborigines, Europeans, Arabs, Indians and Chinese living and working together.
Although the book starts out as though it is from the perspective of the European protagonist, the narrative is dynamic. By the end of the story the protagonist (and the audience) discover the understanding of his own insignificance.
In the beginning of the story Almayer appears to be at the centre of society, but in the end we see that he is very much peripheral and alienated, and that the real cultural, political and economic life of the community is located elsewhere and involves other people besides himself. ---
If you are a Conrad fan, you may want to book a passage aboard Raja Laut, inspired by the legendary writer, which we call Conrads Voyage.
This annual passage whose route takes Raja Laut through trading entrepots such as Singapore, Penang and Malacca, as well as incredible natural locations and idyllic tropical islands, such as Langkawi, Bali, and the islands and rivers of East Kalimantan - the setting of 'Almayer’s Folly'.
Ahoy,
Team Raja Laut
June 19, 2009
Bali Sunset Cruise
Raja Laut Private Yacht Charter & The Bali Sunset Cruise
With the awe-inspiring sunsets of Bai, and the luxury of the service and surroundings onboard Raja Laut, there are few better places to spend an evening in tropical paradise.
As we depart at 5.30pm a sumptuous buffet and drinks awaits. As the sun goes down take in the beauty of the harbour, the refreshing night air and relax and enjoy the scenery into the evening before returning at 9.30pm.
Sunset Cruise Additional Options:
* Air-conditioned hotel transfers
* Welcome cocktail and floral lei
* Live Musical Entertainment
June 19, 2009
Bali Day Cruise
Raja Laut Private Yacht Charter & The Bali Day Cruise program
Departing at 9am this day trip sets sail for the peaceful Lembongan Bay. En route guests can fish, relax with a drink or help the Raja Laut crew to raise our sails by traditional methods rarely used today. Before lunch guests are free to explore the beaches and coral reefs. On board we have 2 kayaks, water skis and a wakeboard as well as a small banana boat for the children. A buffet lunch is served onboard, or indulge in a BBQ on a beautiful private beach. After a buffet lunch served on board guests can enjoy a drink whilst sun bathing on our sundeck, swim and test your bravery by diving from many of the diving spots on our boat, or explore the bay. As we up our anchor relax with a drink before returning before sunset.
Day Cruise Additional Options:
* Air-conditioned hotel transfers
* Welcome cocktail and floral lei
* Live Musical Entertainment
April 03, 2009
Borneo, Bali and Beyond
Another highly enjoyable Nov-April season in the Andaman Sea draws to a close, with the Raja Laut docked in Langkawi, and our crew on R&R - quite rightly so after out-doing themselves on the cruises between Langkawi, Phuket and the Mergui.
So it is now, once again, that highly anticipated time of the year when Raja Laut sets her sights southwards to the magnificence of Indonesia and Borneo, the 3rd largest island in the world.
Malaysian Borneo is well-endowed by Mother Nature, with imposing mountain ranges, lush rainforests, swollen rivers, a smattering of idyllic islands, and a smorgasbord of natural charm and friendly locals! We can never talk too highly of Malaysian Borneo - one of our favourite places in the world - and an area that offers up a highly rewarding cruising experience for those who know where to go.
Borneo is also Raja Laut's birthplace, her spiritual home. The schooner was built on these shores, and with it our dream of exploring Borneo, Bali and beyond!
The clue is right there in the name 'Born(eo)'! And true to this name Borneo is the birthplace of many an inspiring, impossibly romantic, yet sometimes very real adventure… which is a conclusion the writer Joseph Conrad must have come to having traced the paths to Borneo many times both as a sailor and novelist. Conrad did more than any other to make Borneo legend, and we like to think of the journey from the Andaman sea to Borneo, and then Bali as 'Conrads Voyage'.
For much of the English speaking world, and for Conrad in particular, interest in Borneo began with the 'White Rajah' of Sarawak - Englishman James Brooke, who sailed from Singapore, armed with a 100ft schooner (not unlike the Raja Laut) and an inheritance to take on the feared headhunters and pirates of Borneo, claim the Kingdom of Sarawak and found a dynasty that lasted from 1860 to 1940.
But these are stories for another time.
For now suffice to say that some 150 years since the days of Rajah Brooke and the headhunters of Borneo, we are having an immense amount of fun re-discovering these adventures and we look forward one day to sharing them with you !
Ahoy,
Team Raja Laut
February 01, 2009
Chinese New Year 2009
Hello!
As we enter into the Year of the Ox we are announcing several significant upgrades to the yacht, including the laying of a new deck, making the schooner Raja Laut better than ever for all of our friends and guests.
For the deck no expense or effort was spared, with several months in the preparation and construction. Raja Laut has 90m2 of deck space and every inch has been replaced with high grade Burmese Teak.
The results were well worth it, as the deck makes a real impression on the eye, as well as under(bare)foot, the moment you step aboard, with light shades of golden brown and a lovely grain.
Improvements to the sails and rigging were undertaken at the same time - new lighter gaff booms made from timber, more than 300 meters of rope, 20 new blocks, canvas re-cut, and an improved configuration all making sailing faster, simpler and more elegant.
To find more information on the Raja Laut and her construction go to Raja Laut Details
Best Wishes & Happy Niu (Ox) Year!
Ahoy,
Team Raja Laut