Sailing on a Luxurious Heritage

By Swati Basu Das -
axisswati@gmail.com -
Ruling the waters since past several centuries — dhows — which were once a source of transport for all trades along the Arabian Peninsula is now fast becoming a luxury for the well heeled citizens of the Sultanate.

The sleepy hamlet of Sur which overlooks the typical Arabesque architectural patterns along the coastal line is still steady in its approach of keeping the art of dhow making beyond the museum doors. Although termed almost extinct, but the loud hammering sound in the boat manufacturing factory in Sur gives an astonishing picture to any visitor and passer-by. Though pearl diving, fishing and other trading activities on the dhow have declined, yet the making of modern luxury dhows for families to explore the deep blue sea is booming, as a new generation of Omanis take up the tiller.
Moving away from day to day trade, these hand-made boats which takes almost eight to nine months in the making holds a sea-change in recent times. With its tradition in trading, and pearl fishing which is currently making its mark into extinction, dhows are now stepping into a new arena of luxury. “You can now compare a dhow with a luxury yacht and own one,” says Vishwa Kumar, who is into the manufacturing of these heritage vessels.
As winds of modernisation brings in high tide, the present generation holds an anchor on taking these iconic boats a step ahead with luxurious designs and use of 100 per cent Malaysian teakwood. “Though earlier the designs used to be simple for trading and fishing purpose, now the designs and demands have changed with years. In the dhows which we are building now-a-days have three luxurious air-conditioned rooms and two lavish bathrooms and other amenities to serve a full family on board,” says Vishwa, who is working for 8 years in Sur’s dhow manufacturing factory. Even the cotton cloth used for the sail has been replaced by lighter polyester fabric, though the triangular shape of the sails remain as it used to be and so is the iconic design of the dhow. “The heritage lies in its design and shape even though the outlook to use these boats have changed. Sometimes we do use Meranti wood for the hull in order to make the boat a bit lighter and considerably faster,” says Vishwa Kumar.
The hammering, sawing and shaping of a dhow which is done entirely by hand and with no blueprint is just but with experience of the workers, can never be considered a lost art. “It takes huge time to build these 32 feet vessels, some take six months and some almost a year, depending on the size and designs. The workers never run out of orders. Orders are quite steady. But what has changed is the way a dhow has been used in the past decades. It is now mostly individuals who demand these traditional boats to be built for their own luxury trips to the sea with their family,” says Suleiman who brings in orders for the dhow manufacturing.
The lavishly built dhows today have bedrooms with attached bath and other required amenities and is a current fad among the well-to-do citizens.”People who can afford hire these dhows for a year or even buy them and sail out with their families for a day or two depending on their holiday trip plans,” says Suleiman. Some hired for a few hours trip for the tourist is completely different in design compared to those built extravagantly for overnight stay on board.
Owning a dhow or even hiring it for a year is a new trend which exceeds thousands of Omani Rials for the owners as well as for those who rent it for their family recreations, is much like owning an individual yacht sailing off shore for ample adventures. “Unlike a yacht which is all modern, owning a dhow gives a feel of what our country holds for us in the form of rich heritage. To see a dhow sailing juxtaposed to a yacht, gives a unique feeling of connection to our culture. I would be proud and lucky enough if I could someday own one for my family, says 38-year-old Mohammad al Balushi, who has ordered a boat which will take at least 10 months to near completion. To keep the tradition of sailing on favourable winds, owning a dhow will surely amplify the age old tradition.

The extinct dhow models

Al Ghanjah — Easily distinguishable by its typical stem-head with trefoil crest, Al Ghanjah was formerly used in trading. With a capacity of 130 to 300 tonnes, these boats were built in Sur.
Houri Al Safeena — A small sailing boat used to send rescue teams for the stranded boats.
Houri for a crossing — Were used mainly for ferrying passengers and also for transporting fresh water to the ships.
Houri Fish — Now replaced by Launch Samak, this was once used for fishing and also transporting goods at short distances.
Al Mashouh — A light canoe used for ferrying sailors to the ship and back.