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:

Deckhouse & Interior: Selangan Batu. Selangan Batu comes from the family of Dipterocarpaceae with a given botanical name of Shorea spp . Other known given names are Tekam, Kowan Darob and Balau. It has excellent durability and is usually used for exterior construction, marine and wharfs, even piling, and boat hull construction.

Interior Floors: Merbau. Merbau wood comes from the tree with botanical name Intsia Bijuga. The tree grows in the lowland tropical rainforest near the mangrove swamps, rivers or floodplains. Merbau is a very durable and termite-resistant wood which makes it a highly sought after material for flooring and other usage.

Thanks for reading this and we hope to you enjoyed it and found it informative.

To all our friends and supporters, all over the world: Happy Sailing!!

Team Raja Laut

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:

2. Steel or aluminium hulls are strong, have many advantages, and are the better materials for certain vessels, but they carry little charm and lots of vibrations. In the long term steel will corrode and aluminium will oxidize and plenty of maintenance and care is still required.

3. Fibreglass is less maintenance and when first invented people thought it might be the miracle material. Unfortunately they were wrong. A fibreglass hull weakens over time, water penetrates the layers by osmosis, spider cracks form over the glass, on impact with a harder material it will shatter, and to top it off it is difficult to repair and unpleasant to work with.

4. With the right type of wood and proper maintenance a well built wooden boat actually lasts longer than their fiberglass counterparts. In part this is because wood is able to absorb and release water so a wooden sailboat will actually get less condensation and dampness on it than a fiberglass one. Furthermore, thanks todays technology wooden boats are less maintenance, while regardless of technology, a fiberglass boat will deteriorate persistently with age and there is little that can be done to prevent it.

Its worth reading that last paragraph again because many potential boat buyers erroneously choose fiberglass over wood thinking it is less maintenance and lasts longer. But a survey around the world’s marinas will find hundreds of wooden boats built in the 1920s and 30s that are around today still in great condition.

5. A longer life span is just one of the reasons that also makes a well-built wooden boat the more environmentally-friendly choice. Today wood is used in cheap furnitures, paper advertising, toilet papers, and other uses which have no lifespan and therefore an environmental waste! A well-built wooden boat should last for several decades at least. Time enough to renew the resource. Furthermore, other materials used for building boats, steel or aluminium for example, are not renewable resources and, unlike fiberglass, wood is biodegradable so that a sunken or disposed of wooden boat is not as damaging to the environment.

In short, for romantic reasons, practical reasons, and to adhere to the tradition of the classic schooner, our choice was always going to be wood!

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.

Legend has it that on one of Lingards numerous voyages to Borneo he fought a large fleet of Bugis pirates (the most feared and skilled seafarers of the region), rescuing a surrounded Dutch man-of-war. His bravery on this occasion earned him the thanks of the King of Holland and he was made a Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. Locally, he acquired the unofficial title "Raja Laut" bestowed by the Sultan of Gunung Tabor, and was known by this sobriquet among the Malays.

Nearly one hundred and fifty years later another "Raja Laut" is launched on the shores of Borneo, commissioned by a Malaysian company, designed and built by a multinational team of European and Asian boat builders, carpenters and shipwrights. East meets West, once again, in the Malay Archipelago... except that today the region abounds with holidaymakers hungering for eco-treasures rather than spices, for new adventures with a new "Raja Laut"...

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

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

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

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

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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

Inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand, the event has been held every year since during the first week of December. With the Royal Patronage of His Majesty is organised by the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Organising Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy, and the Province of Phuket.

Property developer Raimon Land has once again extended title sponsorship to the King's Cup Regatta for a further five years, and the classes this year include IRC racing, Sportsboat, Firefly 850, Sunsail One Design, Multihull, Bareboat charter, Ocean Rover, and Classic.

This year the yacht Raja Laut will be in attendance not to race, but to shadow the races and attend to the supporting parties of photographers, agents, friends and old sea dogs !

A Raja Laut yacht charter is an option during the King's Cup as well for the Raja Muda International Regatta (Malaysia), and the Singapore Straits Regatta (Singapore).

Do your staff need rewarding, your clients thanking? For you, your company and clients we can organize a Raja Laut regatta yacht charter: for an exhilarating time we can the yacht Raja Laut in the classic racing category, or for a leisurely cruise we can sail out to view the regattas themselves.

If you would like to make your own itinerary or have any special requests, just ask! We provide professional friendly and experienced skipper & crew for your safety and enjoyment, so sailing experience is not necessary.

For more information don't hesitate to contact us.

Fair winds,
Team Raja Laut

As usual our yacht will be based in the "Emerald Isles" -- not Ireland (!) but actually Langkawi (Malaysia). Langkawi is a major beach resort and yachting destination in Malaysia, and an enchanting tropical island, surrounded by 99 other islands and islets, stunning beaches and a backdrop of lush rainforest-covered mountains. Langkawi is also a serene, luxurious destination, where you can dine in gourmet restaurants attached to 5 star hotels perched in the hillsides, high above the tranquil bays.

Marine Gateway
Adjacent to the beautiful Tarutao Marine National Park, Langkawi is also a great gateway for ANDAMAN SEA CRUISES (including Phang-Nga Bay, Phi-Phi, Krabi, Phuket, and also within striking distance there is the Mergui Archipelago). Langkawi's ideal location has attracted yachts from around the world, and there are now 3 marinas serving the many yachts based here:

* Telaga Harbour Marina
* Royal Langkawi Yacht Club Marina
* Rebak Resort Marina

Getting There
Langkawi is just a 45 minute flight northeast of the Malaysian capital city - Kuala Lumpur. There are over 10 flights per day from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi. The following airlines operate regular flights to and from Langkawi:

* AirAsia has regular services to Kuala Lumpur
* Malaysia Airlines has regular services to Kuala Lumpur
* SilkAir has regular services to Singapore
* Firefly has regular services to Penang

For any enquiries about Raja Laut yacht rental and private yacht charters
please contact us at info@rajalaut.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

Best regards,
Team Raja Laut

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