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THE GIFT OF TWO TIKOPIAN CANOES TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDERS OF TIKOPIA AND ANUTA

“We should build 2 Tikopian Canoes (by our builder in the Philippines) and give them to the islands of Tikopia and Anuta (it’s sister island), so they can continue to be self-sufficient and take pride in their ancient sailing heritage”. – James Wharram Designs.

In March James, Hanneke and Jamie went to the Philippines to sail on the first of our new Ethnic design, the ‘Child of the Sea’. This design was directly based on the ancient hullform of a Tikopian canoe (actually amazingly similar in section and profile to the hulls of ‘Spirit of Gaia’). We first came across this hullform in Auckland Museum in 1995, a Sacred Canoe given to the Museum when the island of Tikopia (a tiny Pacific island at the Eastern end of the Solomons) became Christianised in 1916.

In 1996, we sailed to Tikopia and met the Chiefs and the people. Three years ago, we designed the ‘Child of the Sea’ in honour of their beautiful canoe heritage.

In January of this year, Hanneke had a heart valve replacement operation. After a tense 32 hours under anaesthetic (due to some complication), she very quickly started to recover. A week later, sleeping/resting in our Studio and reading a new book by Jared Diamond, who discusses the unique self-sufficiency of the island of Tikopia, Hanneke had a ‘vision’.

We should build 2 Tikopian Canoes (by our builder in the Philippines) and give them to the islands of Tikopia and Anuta (it’s sister island), so they can continue to be self-sufficient and take pride in their ancient sailing heritage. The two canoes would have to be sailed the 3000 miles to Tikopia along the ancient Polynesian migration route.

To make this vision a reality we are going to have to raise money. We already have £275 raised by a fund raising lecture at the local church and by the school children of Devoran, who have previously helped the island’s school children with books. We will be launching the project soon on our website and various friends are convinced they can raise funds from other organisations.

A year from now we will know if this proposed adventure to help the Pacific islanders can succeed. Any of our friends, who have ideas that may be of assistance in making this project a reality, we will be very glad to hear from them.

If we are going to be tired or stressed in the next year, we hope it is due to creative work!

We wish you also a happy and stress free 2006 and hope there will be room for you to be creative.

We wish you peace and creativity for 2006

At 12degrees 18min South, 168degrees 48min East the remains of a volcanic crater rises out of the South Pacific Ocean. Tikopea - 6 square miles comprising volcanic rock, rich soil and white sand beaches - a hot and humid climate with daily temps of 26.7C to 29C. This paradise was to feel the full force of nature's wrath as Cyclone Zoe approached the islands of Tikopea and Anuta on the morning of 28 December 2002.

Visit the relief website.

Visit the Tikopia website here or contact them here.

Tikopian Canoe Project
c/o James Wharram Designs
Tehini, Greenbank Road, Devoran, Truro, TR3 6PJ, UK
Tel: +44 1872 864792 Fax: +44 1872 864791