Overall length:
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15,50 m
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| Width:
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4,65 m
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Tirant d’eau:
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0,85 m
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Material of the veils:
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coton
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| Surface veils:
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140 M2
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On weight:
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environ 18 tonnes
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Load capacity:
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20 tonnes |
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Long before the Europeans, the Arabs were the foremost pioneers of the
sea. For more than 12th centuries conducted business and trade
throughout the Indian Ocean with the use of boutre (“dows” in Arabs),
large, solid boats with a sturdy stern and triangular sail. |
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The first Portuguese sailors who “visit” the Indian Ocean in the 15th century were first amazed and envious when they beheld the Arab ship which was crafted so beautifully and moved amazing speed.
The leading western adventures of the 15th to the 18th century were inspired largely by the style of sails of the boutre which easily catch the wind. The success of some pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries in attacking the boats of the “Indian Company” was due in large part to the use of Arab boutre which made it easy to follow and overcome the kings’ large and wealthy ships. The words “ boutre” comes from the mispronounced English word “boat”. |
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More recently, the famous writer/adventurer Henri de Monfred excited and enthralled generations of adolescent with his stories of extraordinary intrigues, oyster pearls, sultans, lagoons, smugglers, betrayal, wind, boutres and freedom. Ever since, the same image of the ancient boats is sufficient to transport our imagination past the borders of these mysterious and magical regions.
The stage is set, the dream can begin
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We suggest discovery excursions with the boutre in the region including the area between Nosy-be and Majunga. These trips are exclusively “à la carte” and absolutely in the tradition o the excursions of Alefa.
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Today the northwest of Madagascar is the last region in the world where boutres are still used exclusively to sail the long isolated coastline. They transport exclusively by the movement of the wind almost all of the local economic needs (rice, oranges, coconuts, housing materials, wooden boards, etc…). The absence of roads and the ruggedness of the terrain have probably contributed to ensure that the ongoing livelihood of these sailors relies only on the laws of their ancestors and the patience of the wind. |
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