The Regatta Lepa festival has been celebrating every year since 1994 to commemorate the Bajau tradition of building these splendid boats and provides an event for them to gather together annually. Lepa, means "boat" in Bajau.

Semporna comes to life as these colourfully decorated "lepa" vie among each other for the best decorated residential boat.

The contest is judged based on its decoration, local ethnic music and dances performed on board, sambulayang (sails) and tapis-tapis (small flags). ... (more)