Regatta Lepa is an annual traditional boat festival held in Semporna, Sabah State, Malaysia. The celebration is held to showcase the traditional wooden boat-making craft of the Semporna community.
The event takes place every year in mid-April. The series of events runs for three consecutive days, with the main harbor area of Semporna serving as its central venue.
The History of Regatta Lepa
The first Regatta Lepa was held in August 1994 in Semporna. The event was originally initiated by local community leaders to document and preserve the tradition of wooden boat making. At that time, the skill of making traditional boats was declining due to the introduction of motorized fiberglass boats.
The celebration was created to ensure that traditional woodworking skills would not be lost. In its first year, participation was limited to a few dozen traditional boats. Local residents gathered their handmade boats at the Semporna harbor to showcase them to the public.
The Sabah State Government subsequently designated Regatta Lepa as a state-level festival in 2003. The designation incorporated Regatta Lepa into Malaysia's official annual cultural calendar. Since that official status was granted, the festival has been held regularly every year.
The Role of Lepa for the Sama-Bajau People
In the local language, the word lepa refers to a type of traditional wooden boat crafted by the Sama-Bajau people. The boat is constructed using local hardwood without using iron nails in its hull. Instead of nails, boat makers use wooden pegs to join each plank together.
The technique keeps the wooden joints tight and resistant to decay from seawater. The bow and stern of the boat are curved upward to withstand crashing waves. The boat typically measures around eight to ten meters in length and one and a half meters in width.
In the past, the lepa boat served as the primary living quarters for Bajau Laut families. The interior of the boat was divided into several functional areas, such as sleeping quarters in the middle section and cooking areas at the back.
The lepa boat moved from one island to another following seasonal movements and the presence of fish. Over time, the Sama-Bajau people began relocating and building stilt houses over shallow waters. The lepa boat no longer functions as a daily dwelling, but it continues to be crafted as a symbol of cultural identity.
Event Schedule of the Festival
The event features decorated boat competitions as well as water agility contests. Boat owners from various coastal areas register their craft to participate in the competitions. The process begins with decorating the boats along the coastline.
Boat owners attach colorful triangular fabrics called sambulayang onto the mast. The fabrics are mounted in tiers from the bottom to the top of the main mast. In addition to mounting the decorative fabrics, boat owners carve and repaint the wooden walls and ends of their boats.
Once the decoration process is complete, the boats are lowered into the sea to begin the sailing parade along the Semporna coast. Residents gather along the shoreline to watch the procession of passing boats.
On the decks of the sailing boats, musicians play traditional musical instruments. The music accompanies dancers performing the igal-igal dance, featuring hand movements mimicking sea birds.
After the sea parade concludes, activities move to agility competitions in the shallow waters. The competitions include fast-rowing races and duck-catching games on the water. The best boat judging focuses on several key aspects.
The panel of judges examines the neatness of the fabric decorations and the intricate woodwork carvings on the boats. The harmony of the boat's movement and the participants' performance while at sea are also considered in determining the winners.
The winners of each competition category are announced on the closing night at Semporna harbor.
