Congratulations Tangaroa, the New Kon Tiki

by Cruising Editor on 13 Sep 2006 Sail-World congratulates the crew of Tangaroa, the raft which is a replica of the Kon Tiki, on their successful arrival at their destination after 4500 miles sailing across the sea from Callao in Peru to Papeete in Tahiti.

In 1947 Thor Heyerdahl made history when he sailed across the Pacific to prove that Polynesia could have been populated by people from South America. Now, a six-strong crew - including Thor Heyerdahl’s grandson Olav – has followed the same route on board The Tangaroa and spotted land after just over 70 days at sea.

Like Kon-Tiki, The Tangaroa is an authentic replica of the original Polynesian settlers’ papyrus rafts, but now incorporates the latest maritime communications equipment – a Nera F77 satellite terminal using Inmarsat’s global Internet, e-mail, telephone and fax services. In 1947, Heyerdahl also used the then most modern radio communications equipment available at the time.

The idea behind this expedition was to try out some of the design changes Thor Heyerdahl proposed after Kon-Tiki. The crew has also collected samples to monitor pollution of the seas, relay data as an educational project for school children and make a film of the voyage.

Arriving the Society Islands, Tangaroa was met by a spectacular welcome ceremony at the old temple ruins Marae Taputapuatea at the island Raiatea, the most important traditional temple in Polynesia. Regarded as French Polynesia's most sacred isle, Raiatea is the old cultural centre of the Polynesian islands.

After a troublesome night, the Tangaroa crew was picked up at the raft by outrigger canoes and brought ashore as if they were kings! More than 1000 people participated in the traditional reception, starting with a welcome speech, flower gifts, religious blessings and stone offering on the beach. Then the crew took part in a ceremony at the old sacrificial grounds before entering the main temple ground where the official part of the ceremony took place. Here the crew was brought gifts, and they were celebrated with great speeches.

In Torgeir's own words: 'People awaited us like they did in ancient times when powerful chiefs arrived in their double canoes from other islands. The ceremony is meant to remind the population of times long gone, when guests brought stones to the great sacrificial grounds of Taputapuatea. We brought stones from Peru. Once this island was the centre of Polynesia, and according to local oral history, all the other islands were populated from here.

Now we are done with sailing and experimentation. The expedition is a success; we are very pleased with the results and the samples collected. We have sailed more than 4500 nautical miles, which equals 1/5 of the distance around Equator.

The crew was visibly touched and overwhelmed by the warm welcome and the great reception, and they all agreed the expedition had come to a most successful end. 93 days after leaving Callao in Peru they were able to step ashore in Tahiti - the final destination of the expedition!

The expedition members were celebrated like great heroes! Drummers created an exciting atmosphere from first sight of the raft on the horizon, and an artificial beach had been made in the harbour to create an authentic feeling of ancient times. When entering the beach, the crew was once again given a traditional welcome speech and flowers around their neck, before being carried one by one to the ceremony area and lead through colourful dancing groups on to the stage. The reception area was beautifully decorated with flowers and traditional handcraft made of palm leaves.

Mona Sæverud Higraff, wife of expedition leader Torgeir, and Olav's parents, Grethe & Thor Heyerdahl Jr, were among the waiting crowd in addition to Norwegian friends and some representatives of French / Polynesian authorities.