‘Even in the teeth of a gale, she has time for a hula’
With the Pacific themed Australian Wooden Boat Festival fast approaching, I seem to be experiencing a severe case of the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon. And I love it!
The Uto ni Yalo (i-Taukei for "Heart of the Spirit") was built blending ancient Pacific boat-building knowledge with modern materials and green technology.
the sailor breaking barriers on the Pacific ocean
By Sera Sefeti in The Guardian
First female Fijian sail master on traditional vessel Uto ni Yalo led a difficult week-long voyage to the Pacific leaders’ summit in Tonga
In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about 100 miles from Tonga, the winds began to intensify. Sail master Ivanancy Vunikura was helping lead the Uto ni Yalo, a vessel that had set off from Fiji days before.
“The weather completely changed; the waves went up to four-metre swells and the wind went up to 25 to 30 knots. It was not easy sailing against the direction of the wind,” Vunikura says.
After seven days at sea, the boat arrived in Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa, on Sunday, in time for the Pacific Island Forum leaders summit. The Uto ni Yalo blends various Pacific traditional and modern boat designs and its journey was in part symbolic – representing the unity of the region gathering in Tonga. The group hopes to meet leaders at the summit and will also launch a project to share traditional boating skills and knowledge with Tongan communities.
Vunikura was one of two sail masters on the vessel – and the first Fijian woman to be given the role. Working alongside the captain, sail masters are skilled at navigation and understanding winds, currents and how to manage sails to power the vessel.