From left, Ashley Roberto, Andrea Roberto, Judge Joseph Camacho, Ian Thomson, Jaime Cuellar, Leeanna Silva, Keiko Yamagata, Chaime Tudela, and 500 Sails Program Manager Andrea Carr.
A NEW cohort of 500 Sails’ Lalayak program began on June 21, a collaboration between the local nonprofit and Northern Marianas College’s Community Development Institute.
The program teaches community members how to sail and maintain Chamorro canoes.
Classes are scheduled every Saturday and Tuesday until July 5, and participants alternate between classroom instruction and hands-on sailing using 500 Sails’ canoe fleet. Most of the training focuses on the 26-foot-long canoes fabricated by 500 Sails for programmatic use.
Saturday’s lesson covered the historical record of sailing in the Marianas, the history of 500 Sails as an organization, pre- and post-sail inspection checklists, and the parts of a canoe.
Future lessons will cover topics such as points of sail, lashing, canoe steering, and more.
Many participants said they joined the program to feel closer to their culture — among them, first cousins Ashley and Andrea Roberto.
Chamie Tudela also expressed a cultural connection as her reason for joining.
“We need to learn more about our culture,” she said, adding that she enrolled in the class with her friend Keiko Yamagata. “I love the ocean. I’ve done a lot of things — all kinds of sports in the ocean — but I’ve never done canoeing, and I want to learn more about it.”
For her part, Yamagata said that sailing a Chamorro canoe had been a longtime goal.
“I see the canoe going around,” she said. “I’ve seen articles throughout the years and I’ve read about it. I know what 500 Sails is and what the meaning is behind it. I was always saying, ‘One day,’ but it never happened — until my best friend [Tudela] said, ‘Let’s go.’”
Both Tudela and Yamagata said sailing was on their bucket list, a sentiment shared by Judge Joseph Camacho, who is also taking the course.
“I saw the article in Variety, and it’s something I wanted to sign up for,” he said. “It’s one of those bucket list kind of things.”
Another participant, Ian Thomsen, said he’s eager to build on his prior sailing experience.
“I’m not from around here, but I love sailing — I love the water,” he said. “I’ve only been on the canoes once, but I would love to learn more and learn how to do it. My dream is to sail to the Northern Islands.”
Leeanna Silva, who owns a catamaran, said her sailing roots trace back to African sailors in Cabo Verde, and she joined the program to connect with a local indigenous tradition.
“I wanted to learn the indigenous practice on this island because I really connect to my culture,” she said.
As for Jaime Cuellar, he said he hopes to one day sail with his children.
“I saw the article in the paper, and my kids like being in the ocean, so I decided to sign up and take them sailing one day,” he said.
