After a week at sea, the 16-member crew of ‘Uto ni Yalo’ reached Nuku’alofa, Tonga on Sunday, just ahead of the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum Meeting scheduled for Monday.
The ‘Uto ni Yalo’ serves as a symbol of regional unity and is deeply connected to the culture of traditional seafaring and love for the ocean.
Notably, the crew’s journey was highlighted by the presence of a female sail master, a role typically occupied by men. Iva Vunikura, who has been part of the ‘Uto ni Yalo’ for 12 years, has sailed over 80,000 nautical miles, making extensive journeys from Fiji to Mexico as well as around the region.
Reflecting on the voyage, 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.” The sailor from Vione, Gau, was one of three women aboard the vessel and finds peace in her work surrounded by the vast Pacific Ocean.