A Luxury Yacht
Si Datu Bua
40 M | 3 Cabins | 6 Guests
Si Datu Bua is a luxury Phinisi, built in 2012 by the Konjo boatbuilders of Sulawesi, the same yard and the same hands that built her well-known sister ship Silolona. Her name means Beloved Princess, and she wears it well: her cabins and spaces hold a collection of Indonesian art and textiles gathered over years of voyaging. She carries six guests across three king suites, with a crew of twelve, which gives her the feel of a private home at sea rather than a charter yacht. She cruises Komodo, Raja Ampat, and the Spice Islands.
“Si Datu Bua is a yacht with a big pedigree. She was built to the highest standards and it shows in the craftsmanship, small details and the way she is run.”
Laura, Barefoot Yachts Indonesia
Character & Craft
On Board Si Datu Bua
Step aboard and what stays with you is the sense of a vessel made by hand. Carved antique panels, Indonesian textiles, and pieces collected across years of sailing give the saloons and cabins the atmosphere of a travelling home rather than a hotel at sea. The vessel was built to German Lloyds standards, and the craft that went into her is visible in the joinery and the teak underfoot. Life on board is unhurried.
She features a shaded dining lounge inside, an alfresco dining area on deck, and a foredeck laid out with loungers for the slow hours between anchorages. The entire yacht exudes a sense of quiet, and the days are shaped by the tide rather than the clock.
Accommodation
Cabins on Si Datu Bua
Three king suites carry the names of the islands and cultures that shaped them: Banda, Toraja, and Celebes. The Banda suite is the master, the largest of the three, with room to move, and a bathroom built into the same considered style as the rest of the ship. All three suites hold a king bed, en suite bathing facilities, and the same collection of textiles and artwork that runs through the vessel.
Each sleeps two adults, and a child bed can be added in any of them, which makes her workable for a family as well as a group of friends. The cabins are calm and quiet, finished in natural materials, with cool bamboo bed linen and soft light through the day.
Culture & Water
Sailing on Si Datu Bua
What sets Si Datu Bua apart is the depth of what she reaches. Her crew includes an expedition leader and a PADI dive instructor who know the Indonesian archipelago and the people who call it there home well. Diving and snorkelling are part of the activities, with a full dive setup, two tenders, kayaks, paddleboards, and the usual watersports for the reefs of Komodo and Raja Ampat.
But the culture is given equal weight. Itineraries take guests to the nutmeg islands of Banda and their old forts, village visits, and the highlands of Toraja. The crew tend to tell the stories rather than simply point at the sights, and for many that is what stays with them. Meals lean towards Asian fusion, prepared by the chef and served indoors or under open sky.
Step Aboard
Si Datu Bua
Impressions
Si Datu Bua Gallery
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Si Datu Bua Yacht Specifications
Technical Specifications
Length: 40.2 m (132 ft)
Beam: 8.5 m (28 ft)
Av. Speed: 9 knots
Rig: Two masted Phinisi
Naval architecture: Tresno / Seery Yacht Design
Launched: 2012
Cabins
Banda Cabin
Master Cabin (38 sqm) on the lower deck. It features a King Size bed and en suite bathroom
Toraja Cabin
Cabin (23 sqm) on the lower deck. It features a King Size bed and en suite bathroom
Celebes Cabin
Cabin (23 sqm) on the lower deck. It features a King Size bed and en suite bathroom
Child extra bed available in any cabin
All suites are air-conditioned, finished with Indonesian art and textiles, cool bamboo bed linen
Service
Personalised menus and dietary requirements accommodated
Menus inspired by local ingredients, infusing flavors from around the world
Expedition leader and PADI dive instructor on crew
12 crew members
Spa treatments available on board
Dive & Leisure Equipment
Scuba diving gear
Snorkelling gear
Stand up paddleboards
Kayaks
Waterskis & Wakeboard
Fishing gear
2 tenders, RIB 100 hp
Expert Insights on Si Datu Bua
Barefoot’s take
Si Datu Bua is one of the more characterful boats we work with. She is small in guest numbers but built and run like a larger yacht, and the art collected aboard gives her a warmth that newer vessels take years to earn. What guests tend to remember is the quiet, and a crew who look after them without ever seeming to ask what they need. For a family or a small group who want culture as much as reefs, and the whole boat to themselves, she is a natural fit.
Laura
Voyage Planner
