Principles

The Samoa Voyaging Socety (SVS) works to promote positive Samoan cultural values, respect for the ocean and nature, individual and social responsibility, discipline and integrity.


The SVS considers that the reintroduction of traditional sailing in Samoa will provide opportunities for youth development (sports, leadership), environmental awareness, cultural development and, potentially, tourism opportunities such as whale watching and adventure tours.


SVS is developing hands-on educational and training programmes in traditional sailing and navigation. The programmes will target young Samoan youth including school children, school leavers and other interested groups. The task of learning traditional sailing and navigation skills also develops leadership and discipline among the youth, leading to well-rounded young people capable of contributing positively to the growth of this nation.





Friday, August 19, 2011

18. August, 2011

Talofa lava,


Last evening was the first time since we left San Francisco that we've seen the stars and what a sight it is. We sighted Te ma tau a maui, Le manu ( Cassiopeia), the Big dipper and now Orion it being almost 5 in the morning.

The smell of the oil rig is still strong. The unpleasantness of it is getting to the crew, some of them are feeling dizzy and nauseous. It's amazing that right off the Californian coast you have these structures at the same time that the coastal area is renowned for its large marine mammals, which come through here feeding off the rich plankton. To have structures that cause such high pollution to the environment in this area - or any area for that matter - is mind boggling.

The names given to a couple of the oil rigs we passed were “Harmony” and “Heritage” - who named these things????

It's Thursday afternoon and great news: the sun's out!!! And it actually came out during the morning!!! How beautiful is that? It's heatwave of 20 degrees in the sun... and in the shade it's back down just a couple of notches.

So we have the whole va'a sunning and drying out their wet clothes. It looks like a traveling flea market. The boys are wearing their lavalavas once again. And even better: Lole already has lunch prepped!

We are still circa 55 nautical miles away from our point of destination - Paradise Cove, Malibu. We hope to arrive tomorrow Friday 19 2011.

Just received a couple of messages from our aiga in San Francisco sending their alofa - o lafo atu faafetai ole au va'a mo le taupuaiga o le folauga.


We'd like to send our alofa to our sisters and brothers on Uto ni Yalo, it's a relief to hear that no one was hurt during the mast incident. Our prayers are with you and trust repairs can be made in due time so we're able to continue and close this part of our story, our voyage.


To our people at home: We're all smiling and healthy.


Soifua, FB
Gaualofa

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