By Brook Sabin
A group of intrepid Maori explorers are about to embark on an epic journey – a waka trip to Easter Island, using the stars to guide them.
The two waka that will make the voyage don't have any modern-day navigation equipment, or even cabins.
Built by hand, sailed by hand, seven tonnes of kauri will soon be heading for Easter Island.
There are no pulleys, no big winches; everything is done by hand.
The voyage will retrace the path of Polynesian ancestors, using two waka.
They'll set off in August up through French Polynesia, before reaching Easter Island 10 weeks later.
The return journey will see them heading back via Tahiti and Rarotonga.
“We can't sit around and say ‘it's going to be a trip of calm waters and easy sailing’,” says waka captain Stanley Conrad. “It is a daunting trip.”
That's because swells will reach 5m, and winds at times will be gale force.
What makes this journey even more remarkable is that out on the ocean not one piece of modern day navigational equipment will be used. It will be up to Mother Nature, just like their ancestors.
“We'll be basically using the sun in the morning and afternoon, when he's no good to us wind and wave,” says navigator Jack Thatcher. “In the evening we'll use the stars.”
The waka has no mod cons. It will be 10 weeks of hard graft.
But where is there to sleep?
“The bunks are, if I kick this open, down there,” says Mr Conrad. “It’s a bit wet, but that will be sorted out.”
With little shelter, the crew will be exposed to the elements.
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