Entering the scenic Gold Coast in Australia was a welcome reprieve having spent seven days sailing from Port Vila, Vanuatu, says Filomena Serenia.

She is from Fiji on board the Uto ni Yalo for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia from November 12-19.

“I work as a Marine Awareness and Education officer focusing on the impacts of climate change on Yanuya Island,” Ms Serenia said.

She said the seven days were filled with varied weather conditions and provided the new crew members on board with an opportunity to experience flat seas to winds reaching over 20 knots which caught them just a day out of Southport.

“These varied weather conditions which is what may be considered by more experienced voyagers as a short leg was in fact the longest portion of our voyage spanning over 1100 nautical miles.”

She said she had sailed on the Uto ni Yalo in 2012 to 10 countries over eight months.

“I’m proud of our new crew members who had handled themselves and our canoe confidently, particularly as we were caught in a storm with seven foot waves and lightning which speared across the sky like a fork.”

During the storm, Ms Serenia said her crew members were strapped onto the safety lines making sure that they sailed clear of the long liners around them.

“During our watch, we did not sit down for two hours battling strong waves.” After the stormed passed, she said they had entered into Southport.

Feedback: zafiya.shamim@fijisun.com.fj