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Reliving memories of Mangaia’s boatmen shooting the reef

Friday 11 June 2021 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Weekend

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Reliving memories of Mangaia’s boatmen shooting the reef
A poti papa or flat bottomed cargo boat, launches off the reef and into the surf, 1955 (photo; D.S.Marshall)/ 21061107

Taking cargo over the reef in the outer islands involved extraordinary seamanship. Boats and canoes crossed the edge of the reef on the crest of a chosen wave. But when the sea was rolling from the wrong direction, a crossing could be fraught with danger. By Rod Dixon on Mangaia.

Taking cargo over the reef in the outer islands involved extraordinary seamanship. Boats and canoes crossed the edge of the reef on the crest of a chosen wave. But when the sea was rolling from the wrong direction, a crossing could be fraught with danger. By Rod Dixon on Mangaia.


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