Pacific Voyagers
updated: Aug 18, 2011, 10:24 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

Three Pacific Voyager sailing canoes were moored off East Beach for a short time this morning, next to Santa Barbara Harbor. Seven of these incredible Polynesian voyaging canoes (vakas) are on an epic journey throughout the Pacific Ocean to raise awareness about their home ocean and the need for us to keep it healthy. They've logged 48,000 miles so far and counting (amazing!). I was so fortunate this morning to stumble into a chance to visit one of the canoes, the Fijian vaka Uto Ni Yalo, (many thanks to John J. at the harbor and Lil' Toot water taxi owner Captain Fred!). If this had been a planned stop, I'm sure the Santa Barbara community would have offered a wonderful welcoming -- but they were only stopping briefly to assess a broken mast. We wanted to assist in any way possible if they planned to make repairs here, but they didn't have much time to spare and were preparing to depart. Apparently, yesterday afternoon very strong winds near Point Conception (up to 35 knots, I'm told) led to the mast breaking. Vaka captain Colin Philip and his Fijian crew were so kind, warm, and welcoming, and we were very grateful and thrilled to be able to meet them and step aboard. On the web site pacificvoyagers.org the story of their journey is unfolding, and upcoming landing sites are listed: Paradise Cove in Malibu tomorrow, and Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro on Aug. 27th.

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