Nature and Kinship on a Phinisi

Explore the pristine islands and waters of the Coral Triangle in Indonesia on a luxury yacht built out of love for family

- Stacey Chia

INDONESIA - The Coral Triangle of Indonesia sits right in the centre of the archipelago, where phinisi yachts have plied its waters for centuries.

I am on a five-day voyage in this ecological wonderland renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity and breathtaking underwater scenery. It is also home to 75 per cent of the world's coral species.

Starting March 20, Jetstar Asia will be the first airline to operate non-stop flights from Singapore to Labuan Bajo in Indonesia, one of the Celestia yacht's popular departure points.

Friends from London, San Francisco, Kuala Lumpur and New York City (NYC) have gathered on Celestia, one of the luxury phinisi yachts sailing in the Flores Sea.

For us, Celestia is an extra special treat, as it was co-founded by our friend Jasmine Tabalujan Chong and her brother Jason Tabalujan in June 2023. Chong, 37, is a fashion designer based in NYC, and Mr Tabalujan, 44, is a fund manager based in Jakarta.

For the siblings, the phinisi is a physical dedication of love to their family, as they grew up going on regular seafaring vacations in the Coral Triangle. Both their paternal and maternal families trace their roots across Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

Celestia is a classic phinisi in every sense. Traditional in style, it is handcrafted from ironwood, following centuries of boat-making tradition by the Bugis seafarers of South Sulawesi.

The yacht features chic modern interiors by renowned Singapore- and Cape Town-based interior designer Deirdre Renniers, and incorporates the dreamy aesthetic that defines Chong's New York-based eponymous fashion label.