The Crew Reports (Update 14)
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Message from Unaisi Waqanivere and Carson Young
Onboard Uto Ni Yalo

Bula Viti kei Rotuma

Colin has said that everyone must start to contribue to the updates and we
are the first crew members to do so.

Also, rather than just give updates about all the wonderful fish we are
catching, we will also add a short piece perspective from one of our crew
mambers about their feelings and experiences of the trip so far. Today’s
featured crew member is none other than Salome Tabuatalei. Her views follow
the update from Unaisi and Carson.

Update:
It has been 5 days since departing Auckland but because we're heading due
East we’ve lost a day and gained an hour. Because we are on a 2-4 weeks
journey, it seems this has become a popular topic on the canoe. Right now
the skipper and the crew are just keen to cover handsome distances each day.
It’s obvious that the crew have found great rhythm . There is now a distinct
pattern starting with sleeping patterns while working on a continual 3-hour
work shift and 6 hours rest rotation, all the way down to the more mundane
chores of doing ones laundry. Even the guitars come out without prompting
and the cameras too whenever there’s a sense of something about to happen.
The Uto Ni Yalo has a two fish per day rule after which the lines are drawn
in and put away which normally happens before seven each morning, and by
virtue of shear experience and expertise it is Mohammed Hussein (Sunny) who
we turn to, to haul in our fish and fillet it to.

On our sail to New Zealand we had at least a dozen pan size flying fish
willingly throw themselves on deck and needless to say their sacrifice is
not put to waste. Last night we had an even more peculiar visit, a 20cm
squid came propelling out of the dark ocean and splattered on the deck,
perhaps because of its size this creature was spared from being tossed into
the frying pan.

We are telling Rupeni to compile a list of all the recipes he has used so
far which we will publish on the site www.fijivoyaging.com so please stay
tuned for that one.

The winds have been fairly predictable these last couple of days. When you
are over 400 miles away from your nearest land, bird sightings become fewer
but it is amazing how albatross and other odd species do find us when we
have fish trailing the canoe or safely on deck. Even instructions from
Jonathan and Colin seem to have waned of late.

On a fairly breezy day with the sun past its zenith by at least an hour, I
know lunch is just about ready to be served. I also know that given an
average sea temperature of 9-15 degrees, we will all soon be rushing for a
bath before the intensity of the sun subsides and we begin to lose its
needle warmth. We on the Uto Ni Yalo are indeed creatures of habit.

Here is Salome’s view of the voyage so far:

As an athlete and keen open water sports enthusiast, I now have more respect
and love for the ocean. Now I am able to read waves and have also learned
more about sailing not only using a compass but also using the stars.
I don’t have any problems or issues about being the only ladies on board
(with Unaisi). We have a great and experienced Skipper Mr. Jonathan Smith
and Manager who was our Fiji Outrigger Coach to the last South Pacific Games
to the Cooks, Mr Colin Philp, who originally introduced me to Ocean sports.
I do not have any regret in joining this voyage and I am enjoying every
moment.

I would love to thank all those who supported us in Auckland:
The Smith Family, vinaka vakalevu, you really made us feel at home. To all
my Tauvu’s the Naitasiri Clan, vinaka vakalevu Sara na loloma kei na
veikauwaitaki. Dou kua ni leqa au na qai laki tukuna na nomudou i loloma ena
wavu mai Nausori and also to the Editor Fiji Times. To my couz Sera vinaka
na loloma we love ‘U’ especially from our tovata Tukana.

Not forgetting Zack Qereqeretabua thanks a lot and to the Kaiviti Kiwis
paddlers vinaka vakalevu. Mr. Naidu thanks for the donation, Mario, Bryce
and Jacqui thanks for hosting the boys also the Rasigatale family vinaka
vakalevu and not forgetting  Harold (Colorado) our driver and family, see
you in Samoa. We will treasure those memories throughout our trip and back
to Fiji.

Just to end it up from the female point of view the guys show great respect
because we can do what they do and even more than them sometimes. So to all
the ladies out there never underestimate yourself.You can do anything you
want to if you put your heart into it.

Moce mada.
Loloma to all
Loms


About Salome:
Everyone should know Salome from her exploits as a middle/long distance
runner for Fiji. She set a record in the 800 metres at the 1995 South
Pacific Games in Tahiti which still stands today, a mean achievement.
She was born in Labasa and went to school at Labasa College before moving to
St. Thomas High in 1976. She then went on to work at Koronivia Research
Station where she met her husband, Patimio Tabuatalei. They have a daughter
aged 28 and a son aged 27. Both study at the University of the South
Pacific. 
She has won 173 Gold Medals in Athletics alone not including many gold
medals won in Outrigger Paddling, a sport she joined when she was 44 years
old. She ran her last half marathon at the SPG at the tender age of 43.
She still has many more medals to win in outrigger paddling in the masters
division, so she still has many more sporting years ahead of her.
Vinaka everyone!
Report by Satellite Phone courtesy of DIGICEL

awesome map of the pacific and the voyage