Pinisi boat, The greatness of Indonesia in the Land of Beru

Pinisi boat has become the pride of the Bugis of the past to the present. Pinisi boat building situated in the village of Tanah Beru, Bulukumba, 150 kilometers from the city of Makassar.

Pinisi boat has two main masts and seven screens, three on the front end, two in front, and two behind. Pinisi boat usually used for transporting goods in a lot of long trips.

Pinisi boat-making process required precision, skill and also a ritual that must be done. Pinisi boat can take months and months, depending on size made. Wood to make boats pinisi welengreng or taken from the tree called the tree deity known to be very strong and not easily fragile. The boat maker does not use written or drawn designs make pinisi boat. They only use the knowledge and lessons that have been taught by their grandparents and their ancestors.

Pinisi boat building techniques were different from making boats in general. In boat building techniques in general, the framework of the ship made in advance and then made a wall. However, the Bugis boats make the walls first, then create a frame. Apparently, the boat made by the Bugis stronger and lasting waves.

Each of the stages of the manufacture of boats pinisi always performed the ritual. The ritual is performed is the determination of a good day to gather wood for the boat, good day to look for wood usually falls on the 5th and the 7th of the month, then when felling trees welengreng, they perform a special ceremony to receive the blessing of 'the watchman 'the tree, then some ritual when installing a keel, boards, mendempulnya, and mast. The last stage is when launching a boat into the sea, which held a ceremony maccera Lopi, purify the boat, which was marked by slaughtering of animals.

According to a story in the script I Lontarak Chronicle La Lagaligo, Boat Pinisi already there when the 14th century AD The text also explains, Boat Pinisi was first made by Sawerigading, Crown Royal Luwu. Historically, pinisi boat had circled the world, from Somalia to Canada. Therefore, the Bugis tribe is considered as one of the best in the world in the manufacture of sailboats.

Seeing pinisi boat from near as makes you look directly Bugis glory in ancient times in sailing around the world.