Manta Ray Bay Hotel Buys Schooner

After an extensive 2-year search for the perfect vessel, Bill Acker, owner of Manta Ray Bay Hotel and Yap Divers, has purchased a South Seas schooner, a traditional Buginese cargo ship. She has been renamed Mnuw. In the Yapese language it is the name of a rare sea hawk that is seldom seen but yet is famous in Yapese traditional lore. Mnuw is over 100 years old, measures 170 feet (55 meters) in length and is currently undergoing major modifications in Sumbawa Besar, Indonesia. Mnuw will be permanently moored just off of the current Nautical Weaver Bar with easy access from the hotel area. Nautical Weaver Bar will be moved to Mnuw which will allow 2 rooms to be turned into deluxe rooms with a private thatch covered patios. 8 new rooms will be added in what will have been the restaurant, storage area and kitchen. One of these new rooms will have two complete glass walls with a breath taking view of Tomil Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. The folks at Manta Ray Bay Hotel & Yap Divers became more and more excited as Mnuw (Sea Hawk) continued her refurbishment. Begun on the 23rd of March, the ship quickly shed some unwanted timbers and underwenta full-scale remodeling. The entrance to the foyer area (the main dinning room, Internet cafe, Manta Brew micro-brewery and two toilets are located in this area) was trimmed in Teak wood. A 70-foot (23 meter) Mizzenmast was built to complete the refurbishing. Two cannon barrels have been purchased and shipped to the work site in Sumbawa Besar. 40 cubic meters of Teak, 20 cubic meters of Epil (a beautiful Indonesian hardwood) and 15 cubic meters of Ulin (Ironwood) were purchased, milled at the site. A team of 12 experienced shipbuilders joined the ship's crew of 9 in working on her. Another team of carpenters joined the project in early May to work on the galley deck which contains an industrial kitchen, 2 toilets and the Maagirag (means ''One and Only'' in the Yapese language) Lounge. The Maagirag Lounge (fully air-conditioned) will be used as an area for business meetings, social gatherings, a movie theater, a game room with comfortable lounge chairs and couches plus an extra dinning room when the occasion requires. This multi-use area will be an excellent addition to the island of Yap as well as the Manta Ray Bay Hotel. Mr. Jimmy Blee and his excellent partners at East Indonesia Marine & Service Company (etindmar@denpasar.wasantara.net.id) did the re-fit at his private dock in central Sumbawa. The lovely tropical setting provided a fitting backdrop for this historical project. Jimmy was born, raised and educated in Northern Australia and has been working in Southeast Asia for the past 12 years. Visit Yap Divers home page for further updates on the progress of Mnuw (Sea Hawk). In addition to the regular updates, the web site will also host a contest for a free week in Yap for some lucky couple. You need to visit often for details and a chance to win. For more information, click on the Yap Divers home page below.

Already a member? Log in here

Username:
Password:

Name
Email