Polynesian Voyagers
p. 107 · Read in the full issue
He Wants To Emulate The Polynesian Voyagers
The double canoe seen here in Apia Harbour will be sailed 2,000 miles from Hawaii to Western Samoa soon if its owner-builder, 21-year-old American student Mark Richmond ibelow) gets his way. Richmond, a University of Hawaii student, built the canoe while living in an isolated Samoan village for seven months, and he says it’s an authentic replica of the sailing canoes the Polynesian voyagers used centuries ago during their Pacific migrations (some other people say it’s not). Its sail is of pandanus; the larger canoe is 41 ft and the smaller is 30 ft and there is a 9V2 ft platform between the two. With a fair wind the canoe is reported to be able to carry 30 people at 10 knots. Richmond said in Apia that he hoped his voyage would “arouse some of the old enthusiasms”.
At the time these canoes were being used “people had guts, but nowadays we are losing this virtue”. He plans to ship the canoe to Hawaii for the voyage.