Jo's Kon-Tiki trip to save The Pacific
Published 21 Jan 2012 08:00
1 Comment
A FORMER Kendrick School pupil will set sail today on a six month adventure across the Pacific Ocean in a voyage that will take people right back to their roots.
Josephine Noble, from Caversham, will be the only Reading-based crew member among the 100 people set to join the Pacific Voyagers and board one of seven traditional Polynesian sailing canoes for the trip, which departs from San Diego and is due to arrive at the Solomon Islands in July.
The adventure seeker was inspired to join the Pacific Voyagers - a group of people who sail across the Pacific Ocean to raise awareness - after taking part in a trip to New Zealand last year.
She said: "The crew felt like a family, and I am so excited about the new experiences of this latest trip.
"It is partly to remember the Kon-Tiki voyage in 1947, when the explorer Thor Heyerdahl set sail on a raft from South America to the Polynesian Islands.
"The traditional vessel was very significant in Polynesian times, so this is a cultural regeneration back to the roots."
The canoes will adopt traditional navigation methods, using just senses and knowledge passed by tradition based on the motion of specific stars, the weather, wildlife species and the direction, size and speed of waves; to make their way from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, the Cocos Islands, Galapagos, Fakarava, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Fiji and Vanuatu, to the Solomon Islands.
Josephine added: "It's quite a spiritual thing and very emotional for everyone involved, although we will be living in very close proximity and there is no running water, so we will have to use the ocean for washing and I am a vegetarian, so I won't be eating any of the fish that is caught!"
The intrepid adventurer's only concern is leaving behind her 93-year-old grandmother, Edna Gower, who lives in Caversham Park.
She said: "I do get scared about leaving her because she is one of my inspirations in life, but she is very supportive of all my trips so I know she will be trying to keep track of where we are."
To track the voyage, visit http://www.pacificvoyagers.org/
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 20 Jan 12
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MoHamEggs
Unregistered User
Jan 21, 11:13
Report commentShe could save money and effort by simply sailing around the Kennet in the Reading area. It would be far more 'multi-cultural' no doubt!
Recommend?
Yes 11
No 2
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Jan 22, 16:00
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