Vinca
Vinca Deluxe Phinisi
Where we anchor at night in Komodo: the captain decides, and why
Updated 10 October 2026
The brochure names no fixed night anchorage for Vinca Deluxe Phinisi, and we will not invent one. Where the boat anchors for the night depends on the weather and the captain, who chooses on the day from wind, current and the next morning's stop. What the itinerary does tell you is where each day begins. Ask the desk before you book.
The honest answer
We do not know your anchorage, and nor does the brochure. The itinerary lists meals, snorkels, treks and sunsets for each day, but it leaves the place where the boat sleeps blank. Where the boat sleeps is blank for every night, and we have not filled the gap with a guess.
The captain decides on the day, weighing wind direction, swell, current, other boats in the bay, the park and port rules, and the next morning's stop. Two nights with the same route can end in two different bays, and a guest who was promised one by a sales page was promised something that the sea can cancel.
So: we do not name a bay. We do not promise a swim from the boat at night. We do not promise a flat anchorage. We do say where the route has to go the next morning, and that tells you a good deal.
What the itinerary tells us
Read the days and you can see where each one begins, although not where the boat spent the night. On the 2D1N, day one ends with Kalong at sunset and dinner, and day two begins at Padar for the sunrise climb. The brochure does not say where the boat anchors in between.
On the 3D2N, day one ends after Taka Makassar with dinner aboard, and day two begins at Padar for sunrise. Day two ends with the Kalong sunset and dinner, and day three opens with breakfast and a free morning at Kelor, then the return to Labuan Bajo.
On the 4D3N, the beach dinner at Sebayur falls on day three, and day four opens with a snorkel at Sebayur. In every case the brochure leaves the bay for the captain to name on the day.
| From | To | Minutes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labuan Bajo | Kelor | 50–70 | Verified |
| Labuan Bajo | Kanawa | 60–90 | Operating range |
| Labuan Bajo | Sebayur | 90–120 | Operating range |
| Kelor | Manjarite | 30–60 | Operating range |
| Manjarite | Kalong | 50–70 | Operating range |
| Padar | Pink Beach | 60–90 | Operating range |
| Pink Beach | Komodo | 30–60 | Operating range |
| Komodo | Manta Point | 30–60 | Operating range |
| Manta Point | Taka Makassar | 20–30 | Operating range |
| Taka Makassar | Siaba | 60–90 | Operating range |
| Siaba | Kanawa | 60–90 | Operating range |
| Rinca | Kalong | 30–60 | Operating range |
| Sebayur | Manta Point | 60–90 | Estimate |
| Kelor | Labuan Bajo | 50–70 | Operating range |
Why the captain's call is the right call
Komodo anchorages are not equal. Some bays are sheltered from the dry-season south-east wind, and others are not. A night that is calm in October can be rolling in July or August. A captain who knows the water changes bays in the afternoon, and no website can do that from a desk.
There is also a rule layer. The route notice says destinations may change without notice because of weather, currents and decisions from the National Park or port authorities. Anchoring is part of that. The park can restrict areas, and popular bays fill up.
The cost of this freedom is vagueness, and we accept the cost. A vague answer that is true is better than a precise answer that is invented. Losing a booking over it costs less than keeping one on a promise we cannot keep.
A fixed bay would be easier to sell. It would also be wrong on the first windy night, when a captain who is bound to a promise must choose between honesty and comfort. We prefer the captain to choose comfort.
Fixed dates, mostly Mondays and Fridays. Not every Monday or Friday runs.
What it means for sleep, and what to ask
Three practical points. First, the lower deck is the calmest and the loudest place, since it sits closest to the engine; the upper deck is the quietest and moves most. A light sleeper should ask for the upper deck only in calm months.
Second, take a motion tablet early, not after you wake up feeling unwell.
Third, ask the desk three questions before you pay the deposit of 50 percent. Which night of the trip worries you most? Which month is it, and what is the wind forecast? Which cabin would you give a light sleeper? We will answer what we know and say what we do not.
If you must know the bay in advance, we are the wrong boat.
Who this boat suits
- Couples who want a bathtub at sea: the Western rooms on the main deck.
- Guests who want a tatami table, big sea windows and a balcony strip: the Japanese rooms on the upper deck.
- Families sharing a Balinese room with an extra bed, with children under 3 travelling free.
- Groups of up to 18 who want a whole 31 m phinisi with 6 ensuite air-conditioned cabins and 7 crew.
- Snorkellers and paddleboarders who want sunset on the sundeck and a fixed 3D2N departure on Monday & Friday.
Who it does not suit
- Divers who need a compressor and tanks aboard: this is a snorkel boat.
- Anyone who needs reliable internet at sea: Wi-Fi is local only, no satellite link.
- Guests who need a stabilised steel hull, stabilisers or a lift between the three decks.
- Anyone expecting a jacuzzi on deck.
When this is the wrong boat
- You have one night and want the whole park: the 2D1N puts Kelor and Kalong on day one and Padar and Komodo on day two, with only one of Manta Point or Taka Makassar.
- You book a Balinese room expecting a balcony or sea-view windows: it has portholes on the lower deck.
- You are a light sleeper on the lower deck: engine noise is strongest there.
FAQ
Does the brochure say where the boat anchors?
No. The itinerary lists meals, snorkels, treks and sunsets for each day, and leaves the anchorage blank. Where the boat anchors for the night depends on the weather and the captain.
Which bay do you anchor in on night one?
We cannot say. The brochure names no anchorage, and the captain chooses on the day from wind, current and the next stop. Naming a bay is easy; the weather would make the name wrong. Ask the desk for the typical pattern on your route; on the 3D2N the last morning at Kelor is 50 to 70 minutes from the harbour.
Can we swim from the boat at night?
We do not promise it. Swimming depends on the anchorage, the current and the captain's judgement, and the park decides what is allowed in each area. At Manta Point the current is strong, so night swimming is never part of the plan. Daytime stops last 30 to 90 minutes each.
Is the engine loud at night?
Engine noise depends on your deck. The lower-deck Balinese Rooms sit closest to the engine and rate most for noise. The upper-deck Japanese Rooms rate least. Earplugs are worth packing if you sleep lightly.
What is planned for the evening of day three on the 4D3N?
The beach dinner is at Sebayur on day three and day four opens with a snorkel at Sebayur, though the brochure does not confirm the bay. Drop-off in Labuan Bajo is planned between 11:00 and 12:00.
Check availability — Vinca
Vinca is owner-held and run by its own dedicated charter desk.