After a nine-year absence from international voyages, 15 members of the Uto ni Yalo are set to sail across the Pacific to participate in the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga.
This initiative, known as the “Sautu Voyage,” symbolizes prosperity and unity among Pacific nations. It follows the ancient navigational paths of Pacific ancestors and underscores the significance of traditional knowledge in tackling contemporary environmental issues.
The voyage aims to emphasize the critical need to safeguard 30 percent of the Pacific Ocean and to address challenges such as climate change, in alignment with the PIFLM53 theme: Transformative Resilient Pasifiki: Build Better Now.
Reverend James Bhagwan, a trustee of Uto ni Yalo, stated that the crew would cover nearly 800 kilometers as ambassadors of goodwill for the Pacific voyaging community. “We are embarking on this journey in response to a regional call for Pacific unity and resilience,” Reverend Bhagwan noted.
Crew member Lilieta Siakai expressed excitement about the upcoming four-day voyage to foster peace and collaboration. “This voyage embodies the unity and solidarity of our region, a message we are proud to convey to the leaders at PIFLM 53,” she remarked. Siakai added that the journey also serves as a unique opportunity for young seafarers, some of whom are experiencing ocean voyaging for the first time, to strengthen their ties to the voyaging community.
The crew is scheduled to depart from Fiji’s waters to Tonga tomorrow.