Vaka Marumaru Atua is back in the water after seven months on dry dock during cyclone season when maintenance work is carried out by the crew.

It has been seven months of painting, sanding and preparing the vaka at Panama, for the season of sailing.

The Cook Islands Voyaging Society, Captain of Marumaru Atua Deon Charles Wong said, “we will soon be starting the school sailing programmes introducing the young ones to the canoe and for the older students we take them for a sail.”

Training runs to Aitutaki, Nga-Pu-Toru - Atiu, Mauke Mitiaro and maybe Mangaia are also being looked into and in August, Marumaru Atua will be chartered to the island of Palmerston.

Marumaru Atua was lifted into Avatiu Harbour and motored to Avarua Harbour - her home in the sea, yesterday afternoon.

Posts have been put into the Avarua waterfront for extra support for the vaka lines when the northerlies come in.

When the sailing season is over, the voyaging society is looking at sailing the vaka to Aotearoa New Zealand, and returning to Rarotonga after the cyclone season.