A flotilla of two native canoes and one western sailboat have set sail from Saipan to Pagan in the Northern Marianas.
The Chamorro canoe Neni. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Mark Rabago
The three boats will soon be joined by international vessels in the trip that was initially set for earlier this year.
The flotilla is made up of 26-foot Chamorro canoe Neni, the first native canoe built by NGO 500 Sails, and the double-hulled Polynesian canoe Okeanos Marianas, which was build in New Zealand.
The two are accompanied by international vessel Aoba, a western sailboat.
The Neni will be the first Chamorro canoe to travel north in modern history a journey made possible by having the Okeanos Marianas as an escort.
