The Gaualofa is back in the water and is ready to set sail again.
This time, the vessel’s first mission is to lend its voice and support to a group from the Pacific sailing to Sydney for the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s World Parks Congress 2014.
The conference is scheduled to take place from November 12 until 19.
The Gaualofa will be accompanied there by Marumaru Atua from the Cook Islands as well as the Uto Ni Yalo from Fiji.
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The Marumaru arrived in Samoa last weekend and together with the Gaualofa, are scheduled to set sail for Fiji.
Representative of the Samoa Voyaging Society, Leilua Ame Sene-Tanielu said the trip is part of the Mua Voyage.
“This Voyage, called “Mua”, aims to raise awareness of the Pacific and our commitment to conservation through our heritage and culture,” said a statement from the Society.
“The va’a will be the symbol of this commitment and one-ness of the Pacific people. The Mua Voyage is being coordinated by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) with support from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).”
Leilua said Gaualofa would spend up to 10 days in Fiji getting some additional work done to make her and the other va’a ready for the sail to Sydney.
Gaualofa is crewed mostly by Samoans.
The vessel is supported by the government of Samoa through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture.
Other supporters include the Samoa Tourism Authority, South Pacific Cladding, China, United States of America, Japan, the Apia Yacht Club, Samoa Ports Authority and the Ministry of Revenue.
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