Who was barba Toma?

Toma Mandić was a genious shipwright who spent his life giving spirit to wood with his tools and hardworking hands, filled with pride, making ribs, keels, masts… Barba Toma lived from the sea, from fishing nets, counting blisters made from paddles and his tools. He spent every summer of his life transporting tourists by boats, and during winters, he would build ships. Barba Toma built the Moja Maja ship, made from 54 oakwood ribs and assembled following the design of Franjo Fleš.