Homecoming Sail for Traditional Fijian Drua
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Homecoming Sail – The Drua I Vola Sigavou
Be a part of the great journey for the Drua i Vola Sigavou to return to its ancestral home in the Lau Islands!
Drua i Vola Sigavou, which means The New Rising Star, is a replica of the last surviving traditional Fijian sailing canoe or drua. The Drua Experience social enterprise built their replica drua based on the 1913 Ratu Finau Drua that has been housed in the Fiji Museum for decades.
Be a part of the great journey for the Drua i Vola Sigavou to return to its ancestral home in the Lau Islands!
Drua i Vola Sigavou, which means The New Rising Star, is a replica of the last surviving traditional Fijian sailing canoe or drua. The Drua Experience social enterprise built their replica drua based on the 1913 Ratu Finau Drua that has been housed in the Fiji Museum for decades.
The goal of this campaign is to revive Fiji sailing culture and traditional canoe building through awareness raising and youth training. Reviving traditional sailing will also open for sustainable sea transport and shipping, directly supporting the mitigation of climate change in the Pacific.
The funds raised through this campaign will be used to sail the Drua i Vola Sigavou to the Lau Islands in Fiji and conduct traditional sailing and canoe building training with youth on Lau. Despite being the ancestors of the greatest canoe builders in the Pacific, the people of Lau have not seen a drua for 30 years, when the last one set sail to Suva, Fiji’s capital. Specifically donations will be used for communications, taxes and permit fees, safety and sailing equipment, film production and editing, living stipend, and land travel costs.
The Drua Experience Team will film and document the sailing journey to raise awareness on the importance, history and traditions of the drua. At each stop along the sail plan, the team will research and record story and traditional knowledge related to the drua and its origins. All recordings will be kept available for researchers and future training. Upon return, this knowledge will be used to build the Traditional Canoe Building Training Program. The program will support youth in Fiji to learn how to build and sail their own traditional canoes.
Youth training in the Lau Islands will include:
- History and Legacy of the Great Drua
- Drua Construction including uses of native trees
- Tying Knots
- Sailing Practice and Drua Parts and Components
-Traditional Navigation Practices
The Drua Experience is well versed in implementing projects. In 2018-19, they received a grant from IUCN to establish a training program for Suva youth on sailing the Fijian Drua. The team was able to train 183 youths on the history and sailing of the drua. In 2020, the Drua Experience received a grant from the US Embassy to training 200 youths on the western side of Fiji in a similar program. The team trained more than 100 youths before the training was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Drua Experience ran as a tourism social enterprise, providing traditional sailing experiences. However, given the impacts of the pandemic, the Drua Experience is now facing a shortage of income, which will impact the sustainability of the drua and its crew.
The Drua Experience is under the Sailing For Sustainable Company which is owned by Dr Peter Nutall and Allison Newell. We are registered as a commercial Trading business with all safety and regulation required by the Maritime Safety Of Fiji.
Sponsorship
All sponsors that donate will be noted in the credits of the final film for their sponsorship as well as given at least one social media “shout out” during the journey. Those that are able to sponsor an entire leg of the journey (see below) will be provided with special gifts as a token of appreciation.
Homecoming Sail Plan
Preparation in Vuda:
Day 1 – 3: Preparations for sail (departure weather dependent)
Sponsorship: US$4,000
Gift: Free 2 hour sailing trip in Pacific Harbour during preparation days (subject to weather), Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 1:
Day 4: Sail from Vuda to Vatia Wharf
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail on the drua, and Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 2:
Day 5: Sail from Vatia Wharf to Volivoli Resort
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail on the Drua and Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 3:
Day 6: Sail from Volivoli Resort to Qoma Island
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail on the drua and Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 4:
Day 7: Sail from Qoma Island to Leleuvia Island Resort
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail on the drua and Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 5:
Day 11: Sail from Leleuvia Island Resort to Koro Island
Day 12-13: Research, Filming and Training in X villages in Koro Island
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail on the drua and Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 6:
Day 14: Sail from Koro Island to Kaibu
Day 15-16: Research, Filming and Training in 1 village in Kaibu
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Kaibu, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 7:
Day 17: Sail from Kaibu to Vanua Balavu
Day 18-19: Research, Filming and Training in X villages in Vanua Balavu
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Vanua Balavu, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 8:
Day 20: Sail from Vanua Balavu to Mago
Day 21: Research, Filming and Training in 1 village in Mago
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Mago, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 9:
Day 22: Sail from Mago to Tuvuca
Day 23: Research, Filming and Training in X villages in Tuvuca
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Tuvuca, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 10:
Day 24: Sail from Tuvuca to Lakemba
Day 25: Research, Filming and Training in X villages in Lakemba
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Lakemba, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 11:
Day 26: Sail from Lakemba to Kabara
Day 27-30: Research, Filming and Training in 2 villages in Kabara
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Kabara, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 12:
Day 31: Sail from Kabara to Vulaga
Day 32-39: Research, Filming and Training in 3 villages in Vulaga
Sponsorship: US$2,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Vulaga, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 13:
Day 40: Sail from Vulaga to Ogea
Day 41-43: Research and Training in 1 village in Ogea
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Ogea, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 14:
Day 44: Sail from Ogea to Matuku
Day 45: Research, Filming and Training in 2 villages in Matuku
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Matuku, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 15:
Day 32 – 33: Sail from Matuku to Kadavu
Day 34 – 35: Research, Filming and Training in 1 villages in Kadavu
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail in Suva habour (subject to the weather), Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 16:
Day 36-37: Sail from Kadavu to Suva
Day 38: Receiving of the Drua in Suva
Sponsorship: US$4,000
Gift: Free 2 hour sailing trip in Suva (subject to weather), Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
I Vola Sigavou | 'New Rising Star' on YouTube:
The funds raised through this campaign will be used to sail the Drua i Vola Sigavou to the Lau Islands in Fiji and conduct traditional sailing and canoe building training with youth on Lau. Despite being the ancestors of the greatest canoe builders in the Pacific, the people of Lau have not seen a drua for 30 years, when the last one set sail to Suva, Fiji’s capital. Specifically donations will be used for communications, taxes and permit fees, safety and sailing equipment, film production and editing, living stipend, and land travel costs.
The Drua Experience Team will film and document the sailing journey to raise awareness on the importance, history and traditions of the drua. At each stop along the sail plan, the team will research and record story and traditional knowledge related to the drua and its origins. All recordings will be kept available for researchers and future training. Upon return, this knowledge will be used to build the Traditional Canoe Building Training Program. The program will support youth in Fiji to learn how to build and sail their own traditional canoes.
Youth training in the Lau Islands will include:
- History and Legacy of the Great Drua
- Drua Construction including uses of native trees
- Tying Knots
- Sailing Practice and Drua Parts and Components
-Traditional Navigation Practices
The Drua Experience is well versed in implementing projects. In 2018-19, they received a grant from IUCN to establish a training program for Suva youth on sailing the Fijian Drua. The team was able to train 183 youths on the history and sailing of the drua. In 2020, the Drua Experience received a grant from the US Embassy to training 200 youths on the western side of Fiji in a similar program. The team trained more than 100 youths before the training was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Drua Experience ran as a tourism social enterprise, providing traditional sailing experiences. However, given the impacts of the pandemic, the Drua Experience is now facing a shortage of income, which will impact the sustainability of the drua and its crew.
The Drua Experience is under the Sailing For Sustainable Company which is owned by Dr Peter Nutall and Allison Newell. We are registered as a commercial Trading business with all safety and regulation required by the Maritime Safety Of Fiji.
Sponsorship
All sponsors that donate will be noted in the credits of the final film for their sponsorship as well as given at least one social media “shout out” during the journey. Those that are able to sponsor an entire leg of the journey (see below) will be provided with special gifts as a token of appreciation.
Homecoming Sail Plan
Preparation in Vuda:
Day 1 – 3: Preparations for sail (departure weather dependent)
Sponsorship: US$4,000
Gift: Free 2 hour sailing trip in Pacific Harbour during preparation days (subject to weather), Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 1:
Day 4: Sail from Vuda to Vatia Wharf
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail on the drua, and Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 2:
Day 5: Sail from Vatia Wharf to Volivoli Resort
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail on the Drua and Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 3:
Day 6: Sail from Volivoli Resort to Qoma Island
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail on the drua and Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 4:
Day 7: Sail from Qoma Island to Leleuvia Island Resort
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail on the drua and Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 5:
Day 11: Sail from Leleuvia Island Resort to Koro Island
Day 12-13: Research, Filming and Training in X villages in Koro Island
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail on the drua and Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 6:
Day 14: Sail from Koro Island to Kaibu
Day 15-16: Research, Filming and Training in 1 village in Kaibu
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Kaibu, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 7:
Day 17: Sail from Kaibu to Vanua Balavu
Day 18-19: Research, Filming and Training in X villages in Vanua Balavu
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Vanua Balavu, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 8:
Day 20: Sail from Vanua Balavu to Mago
Day 21: Research, Filming and Training in 1 village in Mago
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Mago, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 9:
Day 22: Sail from Mago to Tuvuca
Day 23: Research, Filming and Training in X villages in Tuvuca
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Tuvuca, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 10:
Day 24: Sail from Tuvuca to Lakemba
Day 25: Research, Filming and Training in X villages in Lakemba
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Lakemba, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 11:
Day 26: Sail from Lakemba to Kabara
Day 27-30: Research, Filming and Training in 2 villages in Kabara
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Kabara, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 12:
Day 31: Sail from Kabara to Vulaga
Day 32-39: Research, Filming and Training in 3 villages in Vulaga
Sponsorship: US$2,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Vulaga, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 13:
Day 40: Sail from Vulaga to Ogea
Day 41-43: Research and Training in 1 village in Ogea
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Ogea, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 14:
Day 44: Sail from Ogea to Matuku
Day 45: Research, Filming and Training in 2 villages in Matuku
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: Traditional handicraft gift from the villages of Matuku, Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 15:
Day 32 – 33: Sail from Matuku to Kadavu
Day 34 – 35: Research, Filming and Training in 1 villages in Kadavu
Sponsorship: US$1,000
Gift: 2 hours sail in Suva habour (subject to the weather), Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
Leg 16:
Day 36-37: Sail from Kadavu to Suva
Day 38: Receiving of the Drua in Suva
Sponsorship: US$4,000
Gift: Free 2 hour sailing trip in Suva (subject to weather), Social media shout outs and sponsorship credits in final film
I Vola Sigavou | 'New Rising Star' on YouTube:
Organizer and beneficiary
Drua Experience
Organizer
United States, USA
Jessica Wilson
Beneficiary