For six exciting months during 1996 the crew of the 'SPIRIT OF GAIA' lived and sailed with the Melanesian canoe sailors of Fiji and Vanuatu (the former New Hebrides). For thousands of years the ancestors of the Melanesians have been building sea-going outrigger canoe 'work' boats. I was honoured that they regarded my crew and me as fellow canoe builders and sailors.

Many of these Pacific islands depend on outrigger canoes for their daily life. Even though they use the minimum of materials to construct their sea-worthy craft, some villages are running short of trees with suitable wood for canoes. To continue their canoe heritage, they will have to use other materials like plywood for their construction of the main hull. They asked: "Can we use your Western design skills to help us?"

The l6ft. 'MELANESIA', using two sheets of ply for the main canoe hull is our modern solution to the shortage of suitable trees for dugout construction.

The 'MELANESIA' is to be used in the traditional manner as a small inter island sea truck, for daily commuting to their gardens, for out to sea fishing or just paddling around to see friends, families or nearby islands.

Recently, coming back to the Western sailing scene, studying yacht magazines and visiting the London Boat Show, I find modern yachts feel 'artificial' with unnecessary, expensive items added on. In general discussions with other sailors I notice that I am not alone in the critical observations of modern sailing yacht development.

The 'MELANESIA', designed for Pacific working sailors, could help many Westerners to recover the simple approach to sailing pleasures, which they feel is being lost. So, here it is:

The single hull of the 'MELANESIA' is made out of two - yes, two - sheets of plywood stitched and glued together.

The crossbeams and float are gathered from your local woods or forests (ask permission first). Bamboo can also be used for crossbeams and spars. The sails for the Crab Claw rig, you can make yourself (how to do this is shown in the plans). An old windsurfer rig would be suitable, too. Steering is done in true Pacific style by raising and lowering the paddle.

For under £ 200 you can have a car top, quick sailing, coastal camping craft.

The low cost and simplicity of building the main hull of the 'MELANESIA' is attracting another group of Pacific Island canoe enthusiasts. The Offshore Paddling Canoe racers, who use expensive, six man fibreglass canoes in their inter island competitions, need a low cost 'OPTIMIST' style training canoe to encourage and develop their future paddling champions. A simple paddling 'MELANESIA' is being considered both in New Zealand and Fiji as their low cost simple and quick to build trainer.

Click here to see the Melanesia's "vital statistics".

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