Vaka Paikea and its crew arrived in Aitutaki yesterday afternoon after departing Avarua Wharf on Tuesday afternoon for an overnight sail.

After being on dry dock since last November, Paikea has been fully restored and is ready to continue its educational programmes playing a vital role in preserving seafaring heritage.

While the vessel was on dry dock, its captain and crew were busy for three months as part of the team sailing the Vaka Marumaru Atua to Honolulu, Hawai’i, for the 13^th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture in June.

Traditional master navigator Captain Peia Patai was pleased to see the vessel back in the water and get sailing again.

“Now it’s time to get Paikea back into the water and for us to continue our programmes and work on our star compass project in Aitutaki,” said Patai.

He says there is work to be done on their star compass project, revisit land where they are proposing to establish a school and meeting with the family for their support.

The trip is also an opportunity to have guests onboard to experience sailing on a vaka and to provide more training for the crew.

Patai was expecting a nice westerly all the way to Aitutaki at about 10 to 15 knots.

On board for the overnight sail to Aitutaki were Fenny Smith, Terito Macquarie, Ngatama Tuakanangaro, Steve Daniel, Tapita Patai, Zebediah Ravarua, Stan Wolfgramme from Te Ara Museum, and Olly Oodlers.

Tuakanangaro from Mauke has been working with the crew on the maintenance of Paikea in Rarotonga and will also be sailing to Mangaia.

Macquarie was thrilled to return to the sea on a vaka after a nine-year absence. Her previous voyage was in 2015 with Captain Patai on the vaka Motu Okeanos Rangi from Rarotonga to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Cecile Marten, Te Puna Marama trustee, said they were also happy to have Fenny Smith, a representative from Air Rarotonga, on board.

Marten adds Ewan Smith of Air Rarotonga is a big supporter of young Cook Islanders in the Pa Enua and had sponsored flights from Pa Enua for Te Puna Marama crew to join the voyage to Hawai’i. 

“Meitaki Ewan and your family for always supporting our youth,” said Marten.

Training traditional voyagers and future navigators is the heart of Te Puna Marama programmes.

Te Puna Marama Level 2 Teretereanga Vaka programme will kick off next month where the crew will learn more about modern and traditional navigation.

Prior to Paikea’s departure from Avarua, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking system, used by ships to provide identification and positioning information, was installed.