50m Luxury Phinisi
50m Luxury Phinisi

Silolona

The phinisi that set the standard for everything that followed.

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50m
Length
10 Guests
Capacity
5 Cabins
Accommodations
17 Crew
Dedicated Staff
From $130,900
Weekly Charter

The Yacht

The genesis phinisi that launched a category

Before Silolona, there was no template. When she launched in 2004, the concept of a traditional phinisi built to international superyacht standards did not yet exist. Designed for an owner with both a sailor's instincts and a collector's eye, she required her builders to solve problems nobody had solved before: how to reconcile ancestral Bugis construction with the safety certifications, guest expectations, and engineering demands of a modern charter yacht.

Her hull is traditional Sulawesi ironwood, shaped by craftsmen whose families have built phinisi for generations. The same timber that carried spice traders across the archipelago for centuries now carries guests through waters those traders knew by name. At 50m, with a 10-meter beam and a 3-meter draft, she moves through anchorages that would stop a European motor yacht cold.

What sets Silolona apart from the superyachts that followed is provenance. Two decades of continuous operation in Indonesia's most remote waters have given her crew knowledge that cannot be manufactured. Relationships in Papua's coastal communities, access to ceremonial gatherings, routes through the Banda Sea that never appear on standard itineraries: these accumulate over time, and Silolona has more of it than any other vessel in the fleet.

Patti Seery spent years traveling the archipelago to furnish the interiors firsthand. Pieces from the Asmat, from Sumba, from the island of Flores: each chosen for its quality and its story. The effect is less resort hotel and more private collection, assembled over a lifetime in these islands.

Her PADI Dive Center operates with all three Hypalon RIB tenders, each 5.8 meters, dedicated to dive and shore excursions. A fourth tender handles provisioning and logistics. With every crew member PADI certified, guests who want spontaneous guidance in the water are never waiting for the one designated instructor to become free.

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Silolona interior detail

The Experience

A Day Aboard Silolona

Morning begins before most guests are awake. The dive team has already loaded the tenders by the time the first coffee appears. Those who rise early enough find the water nearly still, the light flat and blue, the kind of visibility that makes 20 meters feel like five. By breakfast the anchor is up and Silolona is moving, her cinnamon sails drawing a real breeze across the passage.

The 10-to-17 guest-to-crew ratio means the day adjusts itself around preference rather than schedule. One couple spends the afternoon with the Balinese therapist; another goes ashore with the expedition leader to a village the crew has been visiting for 15 years. At sunset, the cook serves dinner on the main deck. Tonight it is grilled fish from this morning's market, and a sauce made from a recipe found on the Spice Islands.

Silolona guests enjoying the deck at anchor

The Vessel

Technical Specifications

A Note on Silolona's Credentials

Built in 2004 as the first phinisi constructed to international superyacht standards, Silolona holds the distinction of establishing the category. Twenty years of continuous operation in Indonesian waters have produced a crew with accumulated knowledge no other vessel in the fleet can match. Her relationships in remote communities from Papua to the Banda Sea are available to guests on no other charter yacht.

Accommodation

Five Islands Below Deck

Each of the five ensuite cabins below deck takes its name from an Indonesian island, and each takes its design cues from its namesake. The three master suites, Asmat, Bali, and Java, are furnished with king beds and appointed with colors, textures, and handmade objects sourced on the owner's own travels through those islands. The two double cabins, Sumba and Borneo, carry the same quality of detail in a slightly more intimate footprint.

Rare artwork collected personally across the archipelago gives the interiors an authenticity that cannot be replicated by any interior designer working from a catalog. Carved pieces from Asmat communities, hand-dyed textiles from Sumba, carvings from Borneo: each object chosen for its craft and its story. The cabin doors close on spaces that feel less like hotel rooms and more like rooms in a home owned by someone who has spent a lifetime in these islands.

Silolona cabin interior
Silolona at anchor in Indonesian waters

The light changes at exactly this hour, and nobody says anything, because there is nothing to say.

The Team

Meet the Crew

Silolona’s 17 crew bring 20+ years of experience in Indonesian waters. Led by an expert captain, connected expedition leader, and Bali-trained chef. All crew are PADI-certified, offering diving guidance everywhere.

The Captain
Captain

The Captain

Navigating Indonesian waters for over a decade, with detailed knowledge of Raja Ampat's seasonal currents, Komodo's tidal windows, and remote passages through the Banda Sea.

Expedition Leader
Expedition Leader

Expedition Leader

English-speaking guide with established relationships in Papuan communities including the Asmat and Dani peoples. Plans each itinerary around guest interests and weather patterns.

Head Chef
Head Chef

Head Chef

Trained in Bali, sources fresh ingredients at local markets in every port. Specializes in Indonesian and Asian fusion cuisine adapted daily to guest preferences and dietary requirements.

PADI Instructor
Dive Instructor

PADI Instructor

PADI certified with extensive knowledge of Indonesia's premier dive sites. Leads excursions for certified divers and introductory sessions for guests new to diving.

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Everything on board is beautiful, but the beauty is never merely decorative. The ship rose out of a myth, and continues to weave its way through the islands, keeping the spirit of Silolona alive.

Harper's Bazaar

Charter Rates

Silolona Pricing

Komodo National Park

April to September

$130,900 /week

Spice Islands & Banda Sea

October

$130,900 /week

Raja Ampat

November to March

$130,900 /week

All rates plus 12% Indonesian VAT. Raja Ampat itineraries carry a $5,000 per week surcharge.

Included

  • All gourmet meals and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Airport transfers to and from port
  • National park fees
  • English-speaking expedition leader
  • Crew service
  • Personal laundry services
  • All water sports equipment
  • Diving for certified divers

Additional

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • PADI dive certification courses
  • Dive insurance
  • Trip cancellation insurance
  • Medical and evacuation insurance
  • Satellite phone costs
  • Repositioning fees
  • Crew gratuities
Cruising Grounds

Where Silolona Sails

Raja Ampat from November through March. Komodo from April through September. Other destinations and times of year on request.

Questions

Silolona FAQ

How much does it cost to charter Silolona?

Silolona charters at USD $130,900 per week across all seasons and cruising regions. All rates are subject to 12% Indonesian VAT. Repositioning fees apply when transferring between regions.

How many guests can Silolona accommodate?

Silolona accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 ensuite cabins below deck: three king-bed master suites named Asmat, Bali, and Java, and two double cabins named Sumba and Borneo. The 10-to-17 guest-to-crew ratio is among the highest in the fleet.

Is Silolona suitable for diving?

Yes. Silolona is a licensed PADI Dive Center with PADI-certified instructors aboard. The yacht carries three 5.8-meter Hypalon RIBs and dive equipment for up to 14 guests. Every crew member holds PADI certification, which means diving guidance is available throughout the day rather than only during scheduled excursions.

Where does Silolona cruise?

Silolona sails Raja Ampat from November to March, the Spice Islands and Banda Sea in October, and Komodo National Park from April to September. Her crew also maintains long-term relationships in remote Papua, enabling access to Asmat and Dani communities unavailable to most charter vessels.

Further Reading

From the Journal

Dispatches from Indonesia's most extraordinary waters. Yacht features, expedition reports, and the stories behind our most memorable charters.

Interested in Chartering Silolona?

Please get in touch to discuss planning your private charter.