Sailing Season Starts
“Sail past by means of ‘blessing the fleet’ is usually sought by a divide providence, to which he would anoint the entire fleet and bless all who would labour or venture on to the sea,” Ah Sam, the Commodore of the RSYC said.
Sunday 12 May 2019 | 12:02
Reverend Father Joseva Tuimavula blesses the boat Lady Nola and its crew during the annual Sail Past event at the Royal Suva Yacht Club, Walu Bay on May 11, 2019. Photo: Ronald Kumar
With the blessing of a priest and a sail by salute, Commodore Spencer Ah Sam declared the 2019 sailing season officially opened during the Sail Past yesterday.
Established in the early 1930s, the event is held annually at the Royal Suva Yacht Club in Walu Bay to mark the start of the boating season after each November to April cyclone period.
Boat owners gathered in numbers to participate at the event as a way to seek divide providence to ensure safe passage at sea, good harvest and a safe return.
This year’s event was hosted by Reverend Father Joseva Tuimavula, who said a short prayer then blessed the boats with holy water out at sea.
“Sail past by means of ‘blessing the fleet’ is usually sought by a divide providence, to which he would anoint the entire fleet and bless all who would labour or venture on to the sea,” Ah Sam, the Commodore of the RSYC said.
The event was sponsored by Paradise Beverages, Lawhill Group, FMF Group Limited, Coca-Cola Amatil, Goodman Fielder International and Wahleys Butchery.
Ah Sam also used the occasion to talk about operational and aesthetic changes made at the Walu Bay club since his appointment as Commodore on February 26.
They include:
We have made a call to tender to have the cottages and boat shed finally demolished
The successful connection of the sewer line from the club house to Sentigram Road
The accumulated junk/ rubbish around the club has been cleaned and cleared
Condemned or otherwise unclaimed items from the trailer park areas have been removed
The damaged jetty has been repaired and rebuilt
New fans installed in the bure, from Rohit and Patricia Punja
A new rescue tender donated by Tia Punja
New picnic benches and a new roller gate at the trailer park entrance has also been donated by Du Aull Services.
Changes in the pipeline include:
The installation of a new rollaway projector screen which will be supplied by Fulton Hogan Civil.
The upgrade and relocation of the pontoon to allow for approximately 25 additional berths in the mariner
The upgrade and refurbishment of the main bar, floor and cooler room
Repairing the trailer park fence for added security
Building of six apartments for additional revenue
Place of five 20 feet storage containers for hire.
Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
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