After a week at sea, the 16-member crew of ‘Uto ni Yalo’ reached Nuku’alofa, Tonga, on Sunday, just in time for the commencement of the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum Meeting on Monday.
The ‘Uto ni Yalo’ serves as a beacon of regional unity, embodying a strong connection to the ocean and traditional navigation skills.
Highlighting the significance of the voyage, it featured a woman in the role of sail master, a position typically held by male experts. Iva Vunikura, who has been sailing with ‘Uto ni Yalo’ for 12 years, shared that her most extensive journey spanned over 80,000 nautical miles, from Fiji to Mexico, alongside her local voyages within the region.
Reflecting on their challenging passage, Vunikura noted, “It was tough because we were coming into the wind, but we didn’t give up, which is why we are here today (Monday).” The sailor, hailing from Vione, Gau, is one of three women aboard ‘Uto ni Yalo’ and embraces her work while finding peace in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.