Boat Building Phinisi

Phinisi is a traditional sailing ships from Indonesia, which comes from the Bugis and Makassar in South Sulawesi Tribe precisely from the village of Bira districts Bontobahari Bulukumba. Phinisi actually a screen name. These ships generally have two main masts and seven scenes, three on the front end, two in front and two behind. Generally used for the transport of goods from one island to another. Phinisi is a sailing ship that uses this type of display schooner with two poles with seven strands of the screen, which also has the meaning that the ancestors of Indonesia capable approach towards seven great oceans of the world.

Until now, Bulukumba still known as the manufacturer of boat Pinisi. Where the craftsmen maintain the tradition in boat building, especially in the village of Tana Beru. When in Phinisi Boat Craft Centre Tana Beru, visitors will be amazed to see the skill of the craftsmen make the boat Pinisi. They were able to make the boat very strong and majestic, just based on the experience and knowledge acquired from their ancestors, without using pictures or written literature. With the expertise of the craftsmen, Bulukumba dubbed as Butta Panrita Lopi, the earth or ground experts Phinisi Boat maker. 

A lot of evidence to show, on their ability to master the sea with a sailboat. Overseas them has been famous since centuries ago. The discovery of the community of Bugis Makassar in several cities in Indonesia is evidence of their overseas long ago. They not only dominate the waters of the archipelago, but since a few centuries ago also wandered far beyond the boundaries of the country by boat Phinisi. 

Boat building ceremony 

Boat Building Phinisi very unique, because the manufacturing process combines technical skills with magical powers. The first phase begins with the determination of a good day to find wood (raw material). Materials to make the boat taken from welengreng tree (the tree of the gods), the famous very sturdy and not easily fragile. Each stage in shipbuilding has always held a certain religious ceremonies. Even before the boat Pinisi, launched into the sea first performed the ceremony maccera lopi (purify boat) which is marked by slaughtering animals. If the boat Pinisi it weighs less than 100 tonnes, the slaughtered animals is a goat, and if it weighs more than 100 tons, the slaughtered animal is a cow.