How the Diwata ng Lahi Evolved to Balangay

This is the first version of the “Balangay”. It has got Badjao sails. But one time, they were chased at sea by henchmen of Sultan Makatunao. Well, they sailed no faster than sea turtles so our forefathers ended up in chains in the death camp of the cruel Sultan.  But some of them managed to escape and they swore to themselves to build  a boat as swift as the wind.

They put real sails to them but not powerful enough. They were good for leisure cruise.

This time they put real sails on them. But they were not powerful enough.  So, to make the story short, back to chain they went.

One day they managed to escape again.  Try to perfect their “Balangay”, they did.   They put wider, taller and bigger sails to them. And again, one day they were chased. And trying to drive hard with the wind, they were ditched when the boats capsized on their sides. Back to slave labor they went.  Makatunao swore to cut their heads  off if they ever escape for the last time. The guy has got the habit of playing bowling using people’s heads, deserters said.

And, yeah, escaped they did for the last time, and swore, this time over their crossed fingers, that it was the last of it.

And finally they made the right boat.

The Balangay. The well extended rigs allow them wider sails for more drive.

Thus the story of the evolution of the Balangay.  But is not it the other way around? Like outriggers evolved to wide-hulled leisure boats? 

Just joking…but think of them.

No, that is not the old Balangay.  It is my concept of a modern outrigger, Southeast Asian type.  The hull shape is designed near that of a Viking Longship. The sails are akin to those of modern sailboats. [Old Asian boats did not have boom fitted to the mast.]

It would float without extended rigs but I doubt if it could stay upright for long with those powerful sails on. It will have to be re-designed at the keel and then provided with ballast if without the extended rigs.  [Old Balangay did not have ballasts for balance. The extended rigs made ballasts un-necessary.]

Traditional Asian outriggers usually use bamboo poles for the rigs – solo or bundled – depending on the size of the boat.  Maybe marine plywood wrapped around solid lumber frame, watertight, equivalent to 3 or 4 bamboo poles, would be neat.

Also, hybrid hull would allow the boat to carry the rigs high above water to avoid drag, touching water only when boat lists like when on wind drive. 

Well, that’s a dream. rltj

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