Robb Report
New World, Old Soul: The Handcrafted Odyssey of Dunia Baru
In a world of carbon fiber and glossy exteriors, Dunia Baru stands apart—a luxury phinisi yacht whose every curve, plank, and detail was built by hand, over eight years, deep in the jungles of Kalimantan. Featured in Robb Report, her story is not just one of sailing—it’s one of obsession, craftsmanship, and cultural legacy.
American owner Mark Robba envisioned more than a superyacht; he wanted to create the finest Indonesian-built private yacht charter in history. He partnered with the Konjo shipwrights of Sulawesi—masters of their craft, who work not from blueprints but from inherited intuition—to construct a vessel from dense ironwood, bent over open flames and shaped with tools handed down across generations.
The yacht’s hull was carved on the riverbanks of Borneo, its construction interrupted only by a local mafia standoff. Even that didn’t stop Robba. He repurchased the seized hull at auction and towed it to Bali, where over the next five years, sails from Thailand, marine tech from Britain, and hand-carved interiors by Balinese artists brought Dunia Baru to life.
The result? A bespoke yacht charter Indonesia platform that sleeps 14 across seven cabins, with interiors that balance Balinese elegance, global inspiration, and robust functionality. From the custom breakfast bar to the teak steering wheel—each component tells a story. Dunia Baru is not just a yacht; she’s an artwork, a rebellion against mass production, and a floating ode to perfection.
