After a week at sea, the 16-member crew of the ‘Uto ni Yalo’ arrived in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, on Sunday, just ahead of the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum Meeting scheduled for Monday.
The ‘Uto ni Yalo’ serves as a representation of regional unity, with its roots deeply embedded in oceanic heritage and traditional navigation skills.
This particular voyage was notably significant as it featured a female sail master, a position typically held by skilled male sailors aboard. Iva Vunikura, who has been part of the ‘Uto ni Yalo’ crew for 12 years, has completed over 80,000 nautical miles in her journeys, including routes from Fiji to Mexico, as well as extensive sailing throughout the region.
Reflecting on their expedition, she remarked, “It was tough because we were coming into the wind, but we didn’t give up, which is why we are here today.” Vunikura, hailing from Vione, Gau, was one of three women onboard and is passionate about her sailing work, finding peace in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.