Sunday, 1 February 2009

Madagascar outrigger canoe

And now a small break from the Toroa surgery






















My brother found this in a Dutch "Zeilen" magazine, January 08 (photo by Edo & Joanne Ankum)
I always understood from my friend Steven (who's father was a military courier in Africa During the second World War) that outrigger canoes were common in Madagascar, he viewed them from the bubble observation window in the PBY Catalina in which he flew regularly
Here's a nice example of a tacker (not a shunting proa)
What's revealing for me is the way the lateen sail is set down wind.

Back to work, finishing the coving and glassing on the interior of Toroa's hull today.

More soon.
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1 comment:

  1. sally lightfoot14 March 2009 at 07:20

    Delighted to see the picture. I took it sailing along the west Madagascar coast on board sailing yacht Sally Lightfoot. See www.sallylightfoot.nl for more pics about Madagascar and traditional sailing.

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Toroa by Harmen Hielkema & Mike Toy.

Header Photo: Toroa at Rawene by Julie Holton.

This blog is dedicated to the memory of my father Roelof Hielkema who instilled in me the willingness to learn.
These pages are intended to inform and add to the growing body of knowledge concerning the Canoe Culture of the Pacific, past, present & future, from the Tupuna, the Ancestors of the Pacific cultures to the people of the world.

These pages contain Images and text relating to our two proas, Toroa & Takapu, some history relating to our experiments & experiences.

The dissertation that I posted on this blog in April 2008 "Takapu The Proa" was written by me in 1997 in response to an assignment that I was set whilst studying for my design degree. The dissertation covers many issues that a proa enthusiast may benefit from reading about.

Waka define culture as culture defines waka

Waka reflect the individuality and uniqueness of a society which in turn is governed by the geography, geology, topography, climate, location, resources, isolation, origin, flora, fauna, flotsam, jetsam, etc.

Waka are our link to the past, they have shaped our present and define our future.

Waka are the vessels of knowledge, physical and mental development, freedom of bondage to the land, key to our inquisitiveness, expressions of our ingenuity and courage, our love of shape and form, the seat of our power.

Waka are the source of our material culture, from which all processes are derived.

Waka are who and what we are.