50-foot, twin-hulled, open-ocean sailing
canoe, a vaka motu is a versatile, eco-
friendly work boat built to carry people
and cargo within lagoons and over small
distances between Paciic islands.
It’s based on a traditional Polynesian
design and this one is the third from Auckland’s Lloyd
Stevenson boatbuilders. Two more are in production.
And because they use an unusual blend of construction
technologies, they pose a welcome challenge to Lloyd’s team.
Laying up the hulls in the moulds is the easy part (epoxy,
e-glass with foam core), but these are held together with
heavy, wooden cross-beams tied by traditional lashing. Well,
the method is traditional – the lashings – as well as the
standing rigging, is a modern material (Vectran).
here are plenty of other traditional components –
check out the massive steering oar (called a ‘hoi’) with its
intricately-carved graphic. Built from solid timber, it weighs
a bomb. But because it pivots delicately on a single knuckle
(made from kwila), and because the ‘blade’ is buoyant,
steering the vaka, I’m told, is actually very easy.
his one is named Waa’Qab – and if you don’t want to
dislocate your jaw trying to pronounce it – you can use Yap
instead. Yap – the English (western) version of Waa’Qab – is
an island in the Caroline group and part of the Federated
States of Micronesia. It’s where this vaka is headed – some
3,000 miles north of New Zealand.
Waa’Qab is part of a growing leet of vakas operating
under the auspices of the Okeanos Foundation – an
international community of ocean navigators, scientists,
cultural leaders, spiritual advisors, activists and artists.
hey share a vision for a sustainable, fossil fuel-free future
built upon respect for traditional knowledge, environmental| subscribe | magstore.nz/boatingnewzealand Boating New Zealand 93
A
ABOVE Waa’Qab
was launched at
Westhaven and
is destined for
an island of the
same name in
Micronesia.RIGHT The heavy
rudder at the end
of the tiller.