After seven months in dry-dock at the Silva Family compound in Faleula, Samoa’s 22-meter traditional voyaging canoe Gaualofa is back at sea and ready to sail again.

In mid-January 2021 the traditionally-built vessel was dry-docked for va’a-wide maintenance after four full years on the water. During that time Gaualofa completed voyages between New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa. 

She also circumnavigated Upolu island for the first time and was instrumental in the “Guardians Va’a-Based Environmental Educational Campaign” in 2018 and last year.

During the dry dock process, the core crew patched and filled dents and dings in both hulls and worked with the Samoa Shipping Corporation to apply a new layer of much needed anti-fouling. The masts, booms, planks and steering foe were sanded, patched, re-vanished and re-rigged. 

The society’s communication officer, Josephine Duffy told the Samoa Observer that Gaualofa is ready to resume sailing.

“The canoe was finally put back on water on Tuesday 3rd of August so Gaualofa is planning to resume its role on the Guardians Tausi lou Fa’asinomaga Campaign," she said.

"Which she will be voyaging at five chosen sites in Samoa preferably, two in Upolu and three in Savai’i as well as in Tokelau Islands."

Gaualofa’s captain, Karl Steffany, oversaw the maintenance efforts with the assistance of core crew members, returning Samoa Voyaging Society crew and new members assisted with final preparation to return Gaualofa to the sea. 

The Society sincerely thanked Salā Leslie Silva and his family for allowing Gaualofa to be dry docked in Faleula, Leiataua Samuel Decca Phineas and the Samoa Shipping Corporation for completing the anti fouling, Junior Mcdonald and Apia Concrete Products for helping put Gaualofa safely back on the water.

They are also grateful for the New Zealand High Commission in Apia’s generous grant to support Gaualofa’s maintenance over the next two years. Samoa Voyaging Society received a total of $28,000 from New Zealand High Com last month.

Ms Duffy told this newspaper that their society is excited to have Gaualofa back on water.

“We are so excited that she’s finally back on the water after a few months of dry docking." 

"She’s a good asset to our society and we are all responsible for keeping our canoe intact and secure for her many roles within our Island Country."

Gaualofa is a beautiful double-hulled traditional ocean voyaging canoe (also called Va’a/Vaka), which was gifted to the Samoa Voyaging Society by the Okeanos Foundation in 2009.

Samoa Voyaging Society is a non-profit organisation and works in partnership with 'Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea'.