September 15, 2019
Tahiti crew conquers Southern Pacific Ocean
The crew of the Fa'afaite were welcomed on to Whareroa Marae in Tauranga yesterday after a challenging journey since leaving Tahiti on August 20.
Tuia 250 Voyage Flotilla kaitiaki Jack Thatcher says the crew led by 26 year-old India Tabellini did an amazing job, holding course accurately despite strong winds, cloudy conditions and rainy days and nights once the entered the Southern Pacific Ocean.
He says trainee navigators Moeata Galenon and Titaua Teipoarii were navigating traditionally without instruments much like how their tūpuna would have done, constantly searching for the signs in their ocean environment that enabled them to pull their fish from the sea just like Maui did.
A delegation of more than 300 people from Tahiti is expected in Aotearoa next month to take part in the commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the arrival of Captain James Cook, which will highlight the role of the Tahitian navigator Tupaia in that voyage.
Attention will now shift to the replica of the Endeavour, which has left Sydney on its voyage across the Tasman to take part in the flotilla.
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