St Joseph's Bay on the Isle of Pines is a place where traditional Melanesian outrigger canoes are still being built. The things that distinguishes these canoes from those from other island groups is the single outrigger spaced out from the starboard side of the main hull, about the same distance out as the length of the main hull, and the overhanging deck on the port side. There were none sailing when we stopped there as all the sailing ones were out fishing or taking tourists to outer islands. The local Kunie people who live here have been fishermen for centuries. They leave their gear in little bush shelters in the edge of the trees. You can see that despite their traditional canoe designs, they all have added outboard motors for those times when the wind doesn't blow.
Labels: boats, Noumea
# posted by Bart Bear @ 6:40 pm
