Sailing Indonesia - Explore Southeast Asia

Porthole explores Southeast Asia, enjoying the full spectrum of sailing lifestyles from indulgent to laid-back.

- Steve Leland

Fantasy, it gets the best of me/when I’m sailing — Christopher Cross, “Sailing”

Cruising on a cruise ship holds the inherent promise of a dream come true, but sailing on a sailing vessel is an experience of sheer fantasy. Sailing under unfurled ivory sails stokes the imagination of any would-be sailor, and nowhere can you savor the experience better than in and around the exotic islands of Indonesia. The mesmerizing Star Clippers serve up epic 7-night, tall-ship journeys to remote exotic isles, while the 7-day itinerary on SeaTrek Sailing Adventures’ 24-passenger Ombak Putih explores the eastern portion of the exotic archipelago.

Having previously sailed on Star Clippers’ vessels in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Thailand, and Tahiti, I was fully aware of the laid-back yet indulgent ambiance, so there was everything to expect and nothing to prove. I eagerly wanted to savor the unique experience again (and again). Stepping aboard the inimitable Star Clipper was reminiscent of a homecoming to an extended family. The international crew, decked out in their nautical-striped shirts, alongside officers in their starch-white uniforms greet arrivals with smiles as warm as the tropical breeze blowing across the teak deck.

The onboard vibe interjects a dose of traditional cruise pampering into experiential yacht sailing, a passion typically reserved for the jet-set crowd. Forget floating amusement park activity — the epicenter of entertainment on this journey is out on deck with the wind propelling you through dreamscape scenery. There is something magical about reclining on deck with your feet up, surrounded by uniformed sailors performing their choreographed maneuvers, hoisting the majestic billowing sails into position, appropriately aided by an unending milieu of ropes, pulleys, and brass-plated mechanisms.