Walking down the coast in Vilankulo, you will be sure to notice the colorful dhows resting on the white sandy beaches or cutting through the gentle sea. The dhows are the traditional fishing boats, now used not only for fishing and transport, but also as an experience for tourists who wish to trade in the loud, modern speedboat for a more serene sailing trip. The beaches are spotted with dhows of all colors, and fishermen painting or building these beautiful boats often work on the beaches. I learned recently that the term ‘dhow’ is not necessarily unique to these boats; in fact, the word can be used to refer to all kinds of boats with the traditional, unmistakable triangular sail. This fact spurred me to learn more about these distinctive boats, and thinking that others might share that interest, I have decided to share my findings here with you.
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