The Boutre |
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…).
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