Two 27 foot traditional Carolinian sailing canoes arriving in the lagoon after a 5 day 500 mile passage from Satawal Island in the Caroline Islands of Yap. Three master navigators and twelve student navigators made up the crews.
Sailing down the lagoon to Killi Beach. Managaha Island is in the background.
Sailing canoe MAKALii' TEENAGER and the Mae i Siu in the background.
The crew dropping the mast and sails in preparation for the traditional welcoming ceremony
Two Hobie Cat 16's met the canoes and followed them down the lagoon. Lino M. Olopai, master navigator and Ron Smith, skippers.
Topias Urupoa, master navigator of the Makali TEENAGER from Satawal was first to be welcomed on shore.
Andrew Igomal master navigator of the Mae i Siu from Satawal walks ashore.
Topias Urupoa, master navigator is 70 years old. Although blind from diabetes, Topias can still use his remaining senses to sail and help teach navigation to his students.
Benigno R. Fitial, Governor of The CNMI on the left and Sebastion Anefal, Governor of Yap on the right greet the navigators and students in the welcoming ceremony.
Lino M. Olopai and his wife Fifi were on the welcoming committee. Lino has completed 3 passages from Satawal over the years and is a permanent resident of Saipan.
3 comments:
wish am not that ignorant to have such skills like this..dont you people think so?
Yes, the sailing and navigational skills of the Carolinians are just stunning. I have great respect for them. They were doing these long passages over 6,000 years ago..at least from what evidence there is.
Yes, the sailing and navigational skills of the Carolinians are just stunning. I have great respect for them. They were doing these long passages over 6,000 years ago..at least from what evidence there is.
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