Navigation for Pacific Waves
John Misky's vaka
In 2003 John Misky vowed to his Tokelauan grandmother that he would build a traditional ocean going vaka and sail it between Auckland and Wellington to raise money for the Tokelauan bible translation project.
John Misky outside his Cannon's Creek shed at home in Porirua.
John Misky inside his Cannon's Creek shed at home in Porirua with the polystyrene model of the vaka hull.
The various profiles of the vaka hull at various points along its length.
The side profile and bird's eye view of the vaka marked out.
A model of the vaka made by John Misky as inspiration for the final result.
The finished polystyrene blank ready for the application of timber.
John Misky and his father who has put many hours into making the vaka.
The timber hull of the vaka beside the original polystyrene model.
John Misky's dad sanding back the cedar cladding of the vaka.
The upturned hull of the vaka ready to sand-out the interior.
John Misky contemplating the application of fibreglass to the vaka hull.
John Misky says the Porirua community has contributed greatly to work on the vaka.
The hull ready for paint and fiberglass.
The sleek bow of the vaka designed to cut through ocean swells.
John Misky says the hull will be lashed to the outrigger 'ama' using natural fibres akin to traditional sennit.
John Misky says when the polystyrene form was removed the timber hull slackened off.
Braces have been added to keep the hull's sleek beam after removal of the polystyrene.
John Misky is looking forward to sailing the vaka between Auckland and Wellington.
The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.