Vela Luxury Yacht

Sailing through some of Indonesia’s most remote archipelagos, Vela is a contemporary expression of the country’s centuries-old seafaring heritage. Built by traditional Konjo boatbuilders in South Sulawesi, the 50-metre phinisi combines time-honoured craftsmanship with refined modern design, offering an intimate way to explore Raja Ampat, Komodo and the Spice Islands while remaining deeply connected to the landscapes, communities and maritime traditions that define them.

Story

Vela’s story began in 2016, when hoteliers Dimitri Tran and Adrien Portier first sailed aboard a traditional Indonesian phinisi during a family journey through Komodo National Park. Captivated by this centuries-old form of seafaring, they set out to create a vessel that would preserve its distinctly Indonesian identity while bringing a new level of refinement to life at sea.

The result was Vela, a 50-metre modern phinisi, hand-built in South Sulawesi by master Konjo boatbuilders whose communities have passed this craft through generations. Constructed from ironwood and teak and designed by naval architect Tresno Seery, she draws directly from the wooden vessels once used to carry spices, textiles and sandalwood throughout the Malay Archipelago.

Launched for private voyages in 2022, Vela carries that maritime heritage into the present, combining traditional Indonesian craftsmanship with contemporary design and an almost entirely Indonesian crew. More than a yacht, she is a modern continuation of the archipelago’s extraordinary seafaring story.

Why we selected Vela

A living expression of Indonesian maritime heritage

Vela is a contemporary phinisi, hand-built in South Sulawesi by Konjo boatbuilders using traditional techniques passed through generations — preserving a craft intrinsically tied to Indonesia’s seafaring identity.

Indonesian craftsmanship throughout

Local character continues inside, from sustainably sourced Indonesian teak to handwoven Balinese textiles, Ubud ceramics and works by emerging Indonesian artists.

A deeper connection to the archipelago

Rather than simply sailing between beauty spots, Vela uses local guides and businesses, sources ingredients from local markets and fishermen, and creates itineraries that bring guests closer to the communities, landscapes and traditions of remote Indonesia.

Exploration with a lighter footprint

and replanting twice the number of trees used in construction reflect a considered approach to exploring Indonesia’s fragile marine environments.

Local life & traditions

Indonesia’s identity has been shaped by the sea for centuries, with island communities connected through fishing, trade and extraordinary traditions of wooden boatbuilding. Vela itself carries this heritage forward as a modern phinisi, hand-built by Konjo craftspeople in South Sulawesi using techniques passed down through generations.

Each sailing region reveals a different culture: the Banda Islands tell the story of Indonesia’s historic spice trade, while remote villages across Raja Ampat and Alor preserve distinctive island traditions and ways of life.

Life aboard remains connected to these communities, with local experts guiding excursions and ingredients sourced from island markets and fishermen — allowing the journey to reflect the people and traditions of the archipelago as much as its landscapes.

Authentic experiences in the area

Follow Indonesia’s wildlife into the wild

Trek through Komodo in search of its legendary dragons or rise before dawn in Raja Ampat to spot birds of paradise displaying in the rainforest — experiences intrinsically tied to these islands.

Walk through the Spice Islands’ nutmeg plantations

Explore Banda Neira’s historic plantations and forts, uncovering the extraordinary story of the spices that once made these remote islands central to global trade.

Visit remote island communities

Sail into the lesser-visited villages of Raja Ampat and Alor with knowledgeable local guides, discovering distinctive traditions and ways of life shaped by generations of island living.

Dive the Coral Triangle

Explore some of the planet’s richest marine ecosystems alongside Vela’s Indonesian dive team, encountering coral gardens, manta rays, turtles and extraordinary underwater biodiversity.

Protecting culture & land

Vela’s approach to preservation begins with the vessel itself. Built by Konjo boatbuilders in South Sulawesi, she keeps Indonesia’s traditional phinisi craftsmanship alive while using teak from sustainable forestry.

At sea, functional sails and a fuel-efficient hull help reduce fuel use, while single-use plastics are banned and reef-safe products are provided onboard. To offset the timber used in construction, Vela also planted twice as many trees as were used to build her.

Local craftsmanship remains central, from Balinese textiles and Ubud ceramics to Indonesian ingredients sourced from local markets and fishermen — helping each journey support and celebrate the communities through which Vela sails.

Location & surroundings

Vela has no fixed address: she moves with the seasons through Indonesia’s vast archipelago, reaching places that are often best experienced from the water.

Voyages span the limestone karsts and coral reefs of Raja Ampat, the volcanic landscapes and wildlife of Komodo, the remote islands of Alor, and the historic Banda Spice Islands. With routes shaped by the seasons, each journey reveals a different Indonesia — from pristine marine ecosystems and deserted beaches to traditional villages, spice plantations and some of the country’s most remote island communities.

Key details

Address

Tenuta di Roncolo  
Venturini Baldini, Via Filippo Turati,  
42, 42020 Quattro Castella RE,  
Italy

Getting here

As Vela sails seasonally across Indonesia, the embarkation point varies by itinerary.

Guests typically fly via Bali or Jakarta before connecting to the nearest regional airport for Raja Ampat, Komodo, Alor or the Spice Islands.

Transfers between the local airport and Vela are included in the charter.

Facilities

Six suites & staterooms for up to 12 guests

18-person crew

Indoor & outdoor dining and fully stocked wine cellar

Yoga deck, outdoor gym & complimentary spa treatments

Kayaks, paddleboards, Seabobs, jet skis, waterskiing & wakeboarding

More

Length: 50 metres / 164 feet

Season: Year-round, following seasonal routes across Indonesia

Words from Dimitri Tran & Adrien Portier, Co-Owners

“We wanted to build a boat that feels like it belongs in Indonesia.”
“Vela is an Indonesian boat with an almost entirely Indonesian crew, but we are still guests in these waters.”

Every stay booked direct keeps value with the people of this place, so they can reinvest in culture, community and land

We believe travel should give back more than it takes; that it can protect cultures, not erode them.

That is why we connect you directly with each hotel’s own website. By booking direct, value remains in the hands of those who shape these places, enabling reinvestment into local culture, community, and land.