Regatta Lepa

The lepa is the traditional single-masted houseboat of the Bajau of eastern Sabah, and the regatta held at Semporna each year, usually in April, is built around it: owners dress their boats with sambulayang sails, layers of coloured cloth, carved panels, flags and long streamers, and the decorated fleet is paraded and judged on the water off the town. Around it run rowing and duck-catching races, tug of war on boats, traditional music and dance, silat and a beauty contest, over several days. The festival was established in the 1990s partly to hold on to a boat-dwelling culture that was disappearing as families moved ashore, and it is now one of the main events in the Sabah calendar. The town fills up, so accommodation needs booking well in advance.

What you actually see

• Decorated lepa - houseboats dressed with sambulayang sails and streamers.
• Judging on the water - the fleet paraded and scored off the waterfront.
• Boat races and games - rowing, tug of war and duck-catching contests.
• Bajau music and dance - performances through the days of the festival.

When to go

Usually April; dates are announced by the state each year. Two days.

Honest expectations

Dates shift year to year - confirm before booking. Semporna's accommodation is limited and fills months ahead. Crowds are heavy on the waterfront and shade is scarce.

Nearby

Sipadan, Mabul and the Tun Sakaran islands are boat rides from the same jetties.