From the Shadow of Pirates to the Dragon Lady
“Dauw Talae 2” of the Andaman Sea.
The Story of the Lorcha
In 1843 a new type of ship was born – the Lorcha. It was a hybrid of cultures, born out of necessity but shaped with ingenuity. Portuguese sailors in Macau, struggling against Chinese sea raiders, combined the best of two maritime worlds:
- European hull – sturdy, wooden, and seaworthy like the caravels of the old world.
- Chinese rig – with the legendary junk sails, reinforced with bamboo slats, easy to handle and stable even in strong winds.
This fusion created a marvel of its time: fast, agile, easy to maneuver – perfect for fighting pirates and transporting goods between the ports of East and Southeast Asia.
A Dream Awakens: The Dauw Talae 2
In 1994, German engineer Raimund Fehrmann came across a report about this unique type of ship. Something stirred inside him – a dream of tradition, craftsmanship, and tropical horizons. He decided to build a new Lorcha, inspired by the “Macau.”
The few existing sketches were taken to the University of Applied Sciences in Münster, Germany, where they were transformed into detailed construction plans using state-of-the-art 3D software of the time. In 1995, Fehrmann bought precious Cambodian tropical hardwood in Bangkok, brought it to Phuket, and began building a more fine-tuned child of the Macau.
By December 1996, she was ready: the DAUW TALAE 2 – “Star of the Sea” – was launched, majestic and timeless. Since then, she has sailed on expeditions to tropical islands in the Andaman Sea, carrying guests to hidden beaches, through emerald waters, and into the story of a nearly forgotten type of ship.
Rebirth: The “Macau” (1988)
More than a hundred years later, in 1988, the sound of hammers striking wood once again echoed in the Oficinas Navais de Macau. A group of historians, shipbuilders, and sailors dared the impossible: to reconstruct a Lorcha, despite the absence of complete blueprints.
They named her “Macau” – a tribute to her homeland.
– Length: 26.52 meters
– Beam: 6.60 meters
– Draft: 3.00 meters
– Three masts, junk sails, and – adapted to modern times – two Cummins diesel engines.
She first served the Portuguese Navy as a training ship, then became a floating cultural ambassador. But in 2018, after decades of faithful service, she was dismantled in Portugal.
Lorchas in the Fight Against Chaos
In the decades that followed, Lorchas became the backbone of coastal trade. Whether between Canton and Saigon, Manila and Macau – they were everywhere. Some were armed to make the seas safer, others carried spices, porcelain, and hope to the furthest corners of Asia.
But time moved on, bringing steamships, new technologies – and eventually, oblivion. Lorchas almost completely disappeared from the collective memory.
A Legend Lives On
From the stormy pirate chases of the 18th century to the tranquil sunsets of 21st-century Thailand – the story of the Lorcha is more than just a chapter in maritime history. It is a testament to human creativity, cultural fusion, and a deep love of the sea.
And as long as the DAUW TALAE glides through the waves, this legend lives on.
She is more than a ship – she is a living Dragon Lady, a bridge across time.
Come and look into her eyes – it will give you chills.
