Aboard the Uto NI Yalo- Heart of the Spirit!
Hearing about something and experiencing what you heard about are two different things and this was accurate for me when I boarded the Uto Ni Yalo (UNY). I had heard about traditional sailing in many conferences and talks and I finally got to experience this thanks to Joseph and Elenoa.
We rocked up to the sailing centre at Suva point and were joined by others, many who were also there to experience this for the first time. We paid a membership fee of $30, followed by a briefing and introduction on what we would expect. At the same time, we got to introduce ourselves to each other.
FYI- once aboard the UNY you have to remove your shoes (bare foot on deck), no plastic is allowed on board, no swearing or using of foul language and no alcohol is allowed either.
I was excited to board the Uto Ni Yalo! We were split into groups to work on the different sails and learn how traditional sailing is done. I must say, it is A LOT OF HARD WORK and while I did try my hand at it, I mostly watched and learned. My group was on the morning shift out to the sand bank.
The knowledge shared by the crew was eye opening & educational and everyone on board really got into being “all hands-on deck”. Once we reached the sandbank my group was asked to jump out and help with the anchor. That anchor is HEAVY!
Given that the UNY was docked for a while because of COVID-19, the hull needed cleaning from algae, shells and barnacles. We jumped into the water with scrubbing brushes and cleaned.
Another group was busy preparing lunch on board and the others enjoyed the beautiful weather and the sea. The crew also provided some swimming classes to kids and adults.
Once we were done with lunch, everyone was asked to return to their groups and prepare to set sail. So much energy and enthusiasm while having fun at the same time! We docked at the sailing centre and a debrief was held. We all got to share what we had learned and provide feedback.
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