After a nine-year absence from international travel, 15 members of the Uto ni Yalo are set to embark on a voyage across the Pacific to participate in the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga.
Dubbed the “Sautu Voyage,” this journey symbolizes Pacific prosperity and unity, retracing the historical paths taken by ancestral leaders while emphasizing the vital role of traditional knowledge in tackling contemporary environmental issues.
The expedition will underscore the necessity of safeguarding 30 percent of the Pacific Ocean and will address challenges like climate change, aligning with the PIFLM53 theme of Transformative Resilient Pasifiki: Build Better Now.
Reverend James Bhagwan, a trustee of Uto ni Yalo, stated that the crew would cover nearly 800 kilometers to the PIFLM53 as ambassadors of goodwill for the Pacific voyaging community.
“We are undertaking this journey in response to a regional call for Pacific unity and resilience,” said Rev Bhagwan. “This voyage also offers a unique opportunity for our young seafarers, some of whom will experience blue ocean voyaging for the first time, thereby strengthening our voyaging community.”
Crew member Lilieta Siakai expressed their readiness for the four-day voyage to promote peace and collaboration. “This voyage symbolizes the unity and solidarity of our region, a message we are proud to share with the leaders convening at PIFLM 53,” she remarked.
“Beyond the meeting, this sail is also an opportunity to reconnect with the ocean, draw strength from it, and convey the ancient wisdom of our ancestors to the world.”
The crew members are scheduled to depart from Fiji’s waters to Tonga tomorrow.