The Journal ·

Shipyard visit

In this February newsletter, we take you to the heart of the WAOW 2 shipyard to follow the progress of her construction up close, with a special focus on the hull.

The WAOW under full sail on a blue sea beneath a cloudy sky

In this February newsletter, we take you to the heart of the WAOW 2 shipyard to follow the progress of her construction up close. We share the highlights of our November visit, give you a technical look at how she is built — with a special focus on the hull — and invite you to discover, in pictures, a short recap of her first four months.

This month, we are also delighted to introduce Frédéric, Michel’s son and Camille’s brother, whose personal commitment is very much part of the new WAOW 2 adventure.

Finally, a reminder that you can join this adventure through our participatory pre-sale and become part of the WAOW 2 story.

Thank you for sailing with us!

After the year-end holidays and the start-of-season festivities, including the Paris International Dive Show, we are delighted to be back on the ground in Bira, Indonesia, and to share a few pictures of the progress at the WAOW 2 shipyard.

A shipwright working on the bow of WAOW 2 under shade netting, the sea behind
The tall stem post of WAOW 2 rising from its scaffolding
Looking down the length of the hull inside the building shed
A worker fitting planks along the side of the hull
The bow section with its first planks under the shade nets
The WAOW 2 hull and its stem post in the shipyard shed under a blue sky
An elderly master shipwright leaning on the hull planking
The keel and floor timbers seen from above
The planked side of the hull with the shipyard sheds behind
The curved hull planking seen from below
Scaffolding against the planked hull
The broad planked hull under the shed roof, palm trees behind
Ribs and planks along the keel inside the shed
The bow planking under shade nets at dusk
A carpenter planing a plank with an electric plane
A shipwright driving a plank into place with a mallet, the beach behind
Stacked wooden pegs among the supports beneath the hull
Underneath the hull, propped on wooden supports

Technical focus: the hull

In the Indonesian tradition of phinisi building, the hull is a founding stage, both technical and deeply symbolic. It marks the true birth of the vessel and draws on a craft passed down from generation to generation by the Bugis master shipwrights.

Inside the hull, rows of curved ribs meeting at the keel

It all begins with the laying of the keel, in a ritual ceremony with prayers and offerings, meant to place the boat under the protection of the sea. The stem and sternpost are then set up, defining the line and the sweep of the future vessel.

Shipwrights at work inside the ribbed hull
The planked hull on its scaffolding by the sea

Next comes the planking, fixed directly to the keel and the end pieces. Unlike industrial shipbuilding, a phinisi hull takes shape without detailed plans, guided by the eye, the experience and the intuition of the master shipwright. Each plank is fitted by hand with great precision, like a living skin that little by little draws the lines of the vessel.

Once this outer shell is complete, the frames — those ribs of curved wood — are fitted inside the hull. They reinforce the structure already formed, giving it strength, flexibility and balance, while respecting the natural movements of the wood and the sea.

Close-up of the hull planking curving up into the scaffolding
Black-and-white view of the ribs inside the hull
Black-and-white view of the ribs converging at the keel
Black-and-white view along the ribs of the hull
Black-and-white wide view of the long curve of ribs

At this stage, the structure rises and the boat becomes fully tangible: you can already walk on her hull and feel her character. The phinisi is not yet ready to sail, but her soul is already there — that of a vessel shaped by human hands, with respect for the wood and for a centuries-old maritime tradition.

Hand-drawn diagram of a phinisi hull with labelled parts: planking, stem, floor timbers, sternpost, keel, frames and keelson
A man walking on the ribs inside the hull

Building WAOW 2 – the first four months

A shipwright climbing the ribs of the hull
The ribbed hull under shade netting

From the laying of the keel to the raising of the stem and sternpost, then the first planks of the hull: a look back in pictures at the building of WAOW 2, from September to December 2025.

Watch the video on YouTube

Frédéric Deville

Frédéric, Michel’s son, discovered diving more than thirty years ago in the Philippines. It was there that he even earned his rescue diver certification alongside his father. The passion has never left him since. Over the years and his travels — from the Philippines to Egypt, from the Maldives to Indonesia — he has nurtured this deep bond with the sea and the underwater world.

Portrait of Frédéric Deville in a red shirt

In fact, it was during his last stay in Indonesia, over long evenings of conversation with his sister Camille, that the idea of reviving the WAOW adventure took root. A project especially close to his heart, for several reasons.

First, the regret of never having had the chance to step aboard WAOW. Then, the wish to carry on his father’s work, as he has already done within the family business. And finally, for him, building WAOW 2 is a way to break WAOW’s bad luck by giving her a sequel, bringing a unique adventure back to life while paying tribute to the remarkable work of his father and of the whole WAOW team.

With you on WAOW 2

The WAOW under sail seen from the bow

Don’t miss the chance to take part in the WAOW 2 project!

By joining the WAOW 2 project today, you become much more than a future passenger.

The participatory pre-sales offer a unique opportunity to take part in building an exceptional vessel, while enjoying exclusive benefits: attractive prices, priority booking and a direct connection with the human and craft adventure that is bringing WAOW 2 to life. An elegant and committed way to support the project while preparing unforgettable cruises to come.

Write to us at info@waow.ch for all the details on our participatory pre-sale and the benefits it holds for you.

Friends of WAOW

Old and new, at the Paris International Dive Show 2026

WAOW friends at the WAOW 2 booth at the Paris Dive Show
A group of friends at the WAOW 2 booth
A visitor holding the book La Légende du WAOW at the booth
Three visitors at the WAOW 2 booth
A selfie of smiling friends at the booth
Two women and a man at the WAOW 2 booth

See you next year!

Save the date! Salon de la Plongée Paris 2027, from 7 to 10 January 2027.

Barrel sponges and a red sea fan on a reef full of fish

Photo credits: Bernard Radvaner, Camille Deville, Julia Deville, Reto Schlaepfer, Lorine Grandjean

Translated from the French edition.

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