Taiwan kayakers embark on global voyage

2014-10-09

A group of ROC nationals recently commenced a round-world kayaking voyage in a twin-hulled craft inspired by Polynesian maritime design from Yanliao Beach, Hualien County.

Arriving Sept. 3 in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture, the 16-strong crew led by professor Su Tar-zen from National Dong Hwa University completed the crossing in 33 hours. “Our first leg took us by Yonaguni, Ishigaki and Kume islands in that order,” Su said.

“We will sail uninterrupted between each stop on our journey. This challenge places considerable mental and physical stress on the participants.”

The group comprises businessmen, college students, designers, engineers and a medical radiation technologist aged 21-33. All members completed three months of intensive fitness, boating and survival training prior to the voyage.

Born and raised in Taipei City, Su learned to love the ocean while studying at University of Hawaii. He returned to National Taiwan Ocean University’s Department of Marine Engineering and upon retiring moved to Hualien.

It was there he started promoting the merits of sea kayaking through the Jonathan Su Foundation—established to commemorate the life of his son who drowned during a diving accident. “The best way to remember my boy is to help more people appreciate the beauty of the oceans he knew so well,” Su said.

Over the years he has launched several kayaking voyages around Taiwan, initiating young and old to the joys of seafaring.

Su said a special aspect of the journey is Slippers No. 1, a vessel specially made by the crew from aluminum, fiberglass, iron, plastic and wood. “Although we used modern materials, the design capitalizes upon the vast body of seafaring knowledge built up by Austronesian-speaking peoples from their voyages across the Pacific Ocean.

“We will employ the barest means to fulfill our dream of circumnavigating the earth. With just the packs on our backs and the boat we made with our hands, tradition will take us all the way.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=222649&CtNode=413)