Waow

Did you know that the “O” of WAOW stands for Ocean?

This ocean-centred map shows something we often forget: there is only one ocean.

A single blue world connecting continents, cultures and ecosystems.

Our passion for exploration begins here.

And so does our responsibility to protect it.

Because there is no WAOW without the Ocean.

WAOW 2 begins as a dream.

Then come the trees.
The hands.
The tools.
The patience.

And slowly, almost imperceptibly, a shape rises from the earth.

Born from the forest.
Destined for the sea.

For a little while, she belongs to neither—
reaching toward the sky,
held by the hands of men,
waiting for the water.



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WAOW 2 is in the shipyard.

The sea voyages, the remote reefs, the sunsets under sail - all of that still lies ahead.

And yet, some guests are already part of the journey. Through our participatory pre-sale, they are helping bring WAOW 2 to life while securing privileged access and preferential conditions for the years to come.

Long before the first departure, the adventure has already begun.

→ 🇬🇧🇫🇷🇩🇪 Links: https://linktr.ee/waowcharters?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=24535090-0139-4549-be13-e353567f6db4



📸 Lorine Grandjean

Around WAOW 2, life moves everywhere. And not all who wander the shipyard is officially part of the construction team…Some simply supervise. 🙂
Between the ribs of the boat and the scent of fresh wood, some move freely — goats passing by without a care, chickens weaving through the scaffolding, cats claiming the best shaded corners. Birds sing above the sound of hammers. Below, a whole smaller world hums — insects, discreet but ever-present, part of the same rhythm.
Here, the shipyard is not set apart from nature. It lives within it.
And as WAOW 2 takes shape, she grows surrounded by a simple, vibrant and noisy world — quietly becoming part of the story too.

Some evenings at the shipyard feel almost suspended in time.

The sound of hammers slowly fades, the light turns golden, and for a few quiet minutes WAOW 2 simply rests under the Bira sky.

It’s easy to focus on the big milestones of a build like this — the keel, the ribs, the planking — but there is also beauty in these smaller in-between moments. The ordinary rhythm of the chantier. The wood dust on the decks. The silhouettes climbing down the scaffolding at sunset.

One day WAOW 2 will sail across Indonesia.

For now, she is still growing here, between sea breeze, hard work, and golden evenings.



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Golden hour, full sail… one of those magical moments we can’t wait to experience again aboard WAOW 2.



📸 Jay Monney

Caulking is one of those quiet, essential steps that transform the initial wooden structure into a seaworthy vessel.
Once the planks are carefully fitted along the hull, fine gaps remain between each piece of wood — natural, inevitable, and necessary. These spaces must be sealed with precision, without ever forcing the material, allowing the boat to live, breathe, and move with the sea.
At the shipyard, this process is carried out entirely by hand. Natural fibres — made from the bark of the Gelam tree (Melaleuca cajuputi) — are patiently driven into each seam using a mallet and a caulking iron. The gesture is steady, controlled, almost rhythmic. Too loose, and the seal won’t hold. Too tight, and the wood could be stressed.
The Gelam tree, native to Southeast Asia’s wetlands, is a remarkable material in itself. With its white, papery bark and ability to thrive in flooded soils, it has long been valued for its durability in water. Traditionally used for roofing and boatbuilding, it also produces cajeput oil (minyak kayu putih) from its leaves, widely known for its medicinal properties.
Once the fibres are set, a protective compound is applied to ensure watertightness and longevity. Layer by layer, seam by seam, the hull becomes resistant — ready to face time and ocean.
It is meticulous, repetitive work — often unseen, yet absolutely fundamental.



📸 &

Five fascinating facts about traditional Indonesian phinisi

1. Built Without Formal Blueprints
Phinisi are not built from detailed architectural plans. Master shipbuilders rely on generations of inherited knowledge, proportions, and experience to shape the vessel. The hull form and structure are often determined by eye and tradition rather than computer design, making each boat slightly unique.

2. The Hull Comes Before the Frames
Unlike most Western shipbuilding methods where the skeleton is built first, traditional Indonesian boats often follow a “plank-first” technique. The outer hull planking is assembled early, and the frames are fitted afterward to reinforce the shape. This is one of the most distinctive aspects of Sulawesi boatbuilding.

3. A Boat Is Considered “Alive”
In Bugis and Konjo maritime culture, a boat is not just an object but something almost living. Important steps in the construction—such as laying the keel—are accompanied by traditional ceremonies and offerings asking for protection and safe voyages.

4. The Name “Phinisi” Refers to the Rig, Not the Hull
Strictly speaking, “phinisi” originally refers to the two-masted sailing rig, not the hull itself. The hull design belongs to a type of traditional Indonesian vessel called “palari.” Over time, the term phinisi came to describe the entire ship.

5. Entirely Built by Hand
Most phinisi vessels are still built using simple hand tools, without heavy industrial machinery. Shipwrights shape massive hardwood beams and planks by eye and by hand, using skills passed down through generations of craftsmen in South Sulawesi.



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Back in the shipyard, WAOW 2 is growing more beautiful by the day. Her hull now stands strong and harmonious, with ribs, stringers, and planking all coming together to reveal her elegant, flowing lines. At the bow, the structure keeps rising, giving the vessel more presence and already hinting at her future silhouette at sea.
There is a wonderful energy on site — a feeling that everything is coming alive. The work is now all about precision and finesse: adjusting, aligning, perfecting each detail so that every piece fits seamlessly into the whole. What was once a skeleton of wood has become a balanced, solid, and vibrant structure.
Step by step, under the sun of Bira, WAOW 2 is truly beginning to feel like the vessel she is meant to be.



📸 Reto Schlaepfer

Joining our participatory pre-sale is like stepping aboard WAOW 2 before she even sets sail.

With your cruise credits, you enjoy preferential rates and priority access—but above all, you become part of the journey from the very beginning. From her first days in the shipyard to the moment she meets the open sea, you are already on board.

Further information is available on our pinned posts!



📸 Julia Deville