| A self steering canoe that can cross five miles of | | | | course. The special relationship of the sail and |
| lagoon in just 15 minutes. Magnificent, right? | | | | outrigger creates a balance that whichever the |
| There's truly nothing like a Marshallese Outrigger. | | | | direction of the wind comes from, these Rewuits |
| Rewuit, as they would call a toy model of a | | | | will always stay on a straight course. |
| Marshallese Outrigger are often raced in the | | | | Generations of Marshallese outriggers were made |
| capital of the Republic of Marshall Islands known | | | | by hand and virtually with no use of tools. With its |
| as Majuro. These models are miniatures of the | | | | hull made of breadfruit logs tied together by |
| sleek sailboat design fashioned by the residents of | | | | coconut strings and powered by a sail of |
| these islands thousands of years ago. Living in a | | | | pandanus leaves, only broken pieces of coral and |
| nation which is 99% made of water, it is by | | | | sharpened clam shells were used in sawing and |
| instinct that these people would want to make | | | | gouging. Making these canoes also require |
| sea travel fast and efficient. Their unique sailboat | | | | communal effort. A small fishing canoe that can |
| design consists of an asymmetrical hull that allows | | | | carry one to two persons takes 8 months to |
| the vessel to move directly in the direction of the | | | | make. Mid size vessels that can carry as much as |
| wind. It's kabaak or outrigger is a shock absorbing | | | | 10 people takes a year to make. Full voyage |
| system that improves the glide and efficiency of | | | | canoes carrying a maximum of 50 people takes |
| this boat's sailing. | | | | several years to make. |
| In an ideal day for sailing, locals gather in a | | | | As these were means of transport and livelihood |
| windward bay called Rewuit Corner to sail their | | | | before, model Marshallese Outriggers or Riwuits |
| model Marshallese Outrigger. With a proper set-up, | | | | are now often raced as a means of keeping the |
| these model sailboats can steer itself in a straight | | | | tradition of making these state of the art |
| line relative to the wind. When waves hit or knock | | | | sailboats. They are very much treasured by a |
| it, it swerves back and instantly goes back to the | | | | community that prides in the structural design |
| right way! When gusts of wind come, they zoom | | | | that is remarkably fast and efficient, but also |
| away in incredible speed and yet still stay on | | | | solely known as the Marshallese Outrigger. |