Moce, NZ (Update 10)
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From Colin Philp on Board the Uto Ni Yalo
36º34’S  176º12’E
6:15am


Bula Viti

We are underway on what will be the longest leg of the whole journey – over 2,000 miles to Raivave in French Polynesia. It feels great to be on the water again and the crew are all happy to be back onboard and under full sail. But it was very hard to farewell all our New Zealand supporters – here’s a summary of our final two days in Auckland before leaving Sunday evening.

Saturday afternoon we arrived back at our Mangere accommodation at 6.30pm after a long day working on the Uto preparing for our departure.

Earlier in the Day we sadly farewelled our youngest crew member, Moala Tokota‚ a Junior who returns to school at Marist brothers this week. No doubt Junior will be the envy of his classmates this week as he tells the stories of our voyage south.

On our arrival at the Anglican Church, we found Tukana and signwriter Tui Saurara working on decorating our traditional sails for our departure - (pictures of the crew painting the sail are on the website www.fijivoyaging.com)

It took most of the night to pain the two sails on both sides (port and starboard). It was a real team effort with everyone helping out including the two girls, Salome and Unaisi.

All our visitors were busy snapping photos all night.

Once again Pua Smith (skippers Aunty) and Salome’s cousin Sera were in the kitchen cooking for us (see picture). On the menu was Curry and Roti but we were not to eat until well after midnight.

Pua’s husband, Stan Smith commented that we should eat the roti as soon as it was cooked as roti cooked by Tongan women would be hard like biscuit once it was cold. Stan and his Tongan wife Pua plus their three sons Andrew, Frederick and Sansom were at the hall every evening to help prepare dinner and mix the yaqona. They were always the first to arrive and the last to leave each night.

Just before midnight the Naitasiri women  arrived with a soli and then sang a few songs for the crew. The crew quickly responded and then a request came for Tukana to  sing the „manumanu‰ song which was a regular request every evening.

Tukana or Setareki Laveti as his passport reads, is our mata ni vanua and comedian. He had the Naitasiri women in stitches with his animal sounds and impersonation of a Kaicolo.

The day before the same women had visited the Uto ni Yalo and were telling Salome that we are all crazy for sailing on the canoe as they were getting sea sick just sitting on board at the marina.

Salome told them they should just stick to their Bilibilis on the Rewa River.

Sunday morning was a early start as we packed our final belongings and bedding before a church service at 10am. The church service was held in the same building where we are sleeping so very convenient.

Harold and I took two van loads of gear and food to the Uto ni Yalo at Bayswater which is a 45minute drive from Mangere. Steven, Sonny, and Kelekele came with us to help unload then returned to Mangere for the remainder of the church service.

I spent the next 3 hours packing the canoe ready for departure.  The most difficult thing on a sailing boat is making sure everything has a home and is accessible according to how often they are used.

Everything that was not going to be used on the voyage is stored in the bow watertight compartments. The same compartments that leaked very badly on the way to New Zealand. Hopefully all the work done at Salt House Boatyard has fixed this but unfortunately the only way to find out is to put it to the test in rough conditions.

Once all the crew had arrived at Bayswater, we all gathered on the lawn at the Marina for a Karakia/Masu. Hekenukumai Buzby, one of the leaders of the revival of Ocean Voyaging and Traditional Navigation on double hull canoes, led the Karakia and wished the crews well on their voyage to Tahitinui.

Then it was back to the canoes for the final packing which Rupeni, Harold and I rushed to Pack N Save for the last minute shopping. We filled a trolley with canned food and bread. Most of the food is cheaper here in New Zealand but we had to pay nearly NZ$65 for 12 dalo..

On the way back to the marina, we picked up some fish and chips for lunch which was a fitting final meal in Aotearoa.

Once we had all the shopping on board, we cast off the lines and Mario stood by on the crowed dock to release the last few lines as we motored out of the marina.

As we moved out the huge crowd of Fijians gathered sand Isa Lei and the crew performed their Bole “Vutala na Ua” for the final time in New Zealand waters. There was a huge roar from the crowd as the bole ended.

It was sad to leave all our new found friends and long lost relatives behind but we were glad to be back on the ocean again.

We headed to the Customs dock to clear customs with Sonny up the mast doing some last minute repairs to the jib halyard. As we passed through the wake of the Auckland harbour ferry, I looked up and saw Sonny hanging on for dear life as the Uto ni Yalo pitched and rolled in the wake of the ferry.

Customs were standing by and were more interested in getting photo‚s of the canoe so we were only alongside for 15 minutes and then off again to join the other 3 waka who had left before us.

After an hours sailing we had caught the Te Matau (NZ), Maromaro Atua (Cooks) and Hine Moana (Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga) and we all headed out around Rangitoto under our traditional sails.

We are now sailing alongside each other in a 15knot South Westerly averaging 6.5knots. We are a tight bunch and we can all see each others navigation lights as we sail on in the dark.

Before I sign off, let me take this opportunity to thank everyone that helped make our stay in New Zealand very comfortable and enjoyable.

I will not mention any names as there are too many and I it would be difficult for me to accurately list everyone but you all know who you are and you all know that you are now a part of our crew.

The support from everyone and in particular the Fijian community was so overwhelming and makes us all so proud to be flying the Fijian flag.

For the group of volunteers that make up the crew of the Uto ni Yalo, it makes our sacrifice all the more worthwhile and gives us much needed strength as we continue on our voyage, Vutala na Ua!

Vinaka

newly painted sails on the uto ni yalo

 

crew in new zealand