arrive. It meant we'd be around to view the arrival of Hawaiki Nui, the annual interisland outrigger canoe race between Huahine, Ra'iatea, Taha'a and Bora Bora. This is a really big multi-day event, televised with live coverage. We'd seen boats out training at every island we'd been to, now we were going to see the event they'd all been working so hard for.
After stopping at Ra'iatea the race would continue to Taha'a and finish up the next day in Bora Bora. There was going to be a big celebration on Bora Bora, a community ball with music and dancing. Unfortunately, we were on Ra'iatea and would miss the party, but, we were able to view the finish for the men's juniors and women's classes along with the mass start of the men's class. It was quite a sight. The day was wet and cloudy. The canoeists would no doubt appreciate the refreshing rain and absence of full sun, but, the swell was significant at the finish line and made for hard going even in the lagoon, can't imagine what it must have been like in the open ocean for these small craft, it must have been exhausting.
The canoes seat six paddlers, the person in the stern adjusts the course by steering with a J-stroke. The other five paddlers provide power.
The stern paddler also keeps count of the strokes. After a number of strokes, there is a spoken command and each paddler switches their paddle to the opposite side.
The crews were varied, men/women and young/old.
There were lots of spectators, but, the crowd was very subdued with just some polite applause as boats passed. That changed at the finish line, where a welcoming group of drummers started up as each boat came into view.
Each finisher received a floral garland.
After the men's juniors and women's classes arrived, the men's class assembled for the mass start of the final leg to Bora Bora.
And they're off...
Beautiful but the water looks rough.
ReplyDelete