Drone image of two sailing canoes at Tachogna Beach, Tinian.
(500 Sails) — On Feb. 14 and 15, 500 Sails will be at Tachogna Beach during Tinian’s annual Pika Fest. At this beautiful beach, 500 Sails will offer traditional sailing canoe rides during the daytime and an hour of swimming lessons before sunset.
Sailing and swimming will be offered to Tinian residents, both adults and children. Visitors are also welcome to experience the ocean activities at Tachogna Beach where the water is crystal clear. If you are a resident or visitor of Tinian, be sure to check out 500 Sails activities surrounded by the natural beauty of Tinian’s Tachogna Beach.
This year, 500 Sails’ annual visit to Tinian is made possible by the Indigenous Affairs Office, Luella Marciano, Rep. Denita Yangtemai, the Tinian Mayor’s Office, as well as others not mentioned here. Si Yu’us Ma’asi yan Ghilissow to all!
Brief history of the Chamorro canoe and Tinian
Sailing to Tinian is more or less a pilgrimage for 500 Sails and its canoes, namely the Chamorro flying proas, as many call them. It is a pilgrimage of sorts because Tinian is where the revival all started. Do you know the British Commander Sir George Anson and the infamous “Anson drawing” of 1742? It was in the waters of Tinian where the last Chamorro canoe was captured, taken apart, and “blueprinted” by Anson’s draftsman, Piercy Brett.
It was this detailed drawing of the last Chamorro canoe that 500 Sails based itself upon, to recreate the present-day Chamorro sailing canoes. The canoe that George Anson saw over 280 years ago would have had the same proportions as the canoes you will see sailing in the same Tinian waters. These canoes were built as exact to the Anson drawing as possible, with the same shape hull, sail, and outrigger proportions. The only difference would be that the canoes made in the 500 Sails boatyard were made of modern-day materials due to the lack of “canoe trees.”
So, sailing in Tinian is as close to recreating and reviving seafaring history in the Marianas as we can get!
500 Sails Pika Fest schedule and information
Sailing will be offered on February 14 and 15 at Tachogna Beach. Time of sailing for both days will be 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. After a lunch break, sailing will continue from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Last call for sailing is 3:30 p.m.
There will be a registration table where you can register onsite. Look for a yellow banner and a pink banner, and 500 Sails staff wearing a red shirt. Colorful!! Adults should register for themself and their children. Minors must be registered by a parent or legal guardian before sailing. Small children must be accompanied by an adult while sailing. Life jackets will be provided to all passengers.
Swimming lessons will be offered on February 14 and 15 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Registration for swimming will have the same requirements as sailing. Small children must be accompanied by an adult during a swimming lesson. A lifeguard will monitor the swim session for safety and swim caps will be provided upon registration.
Note from 500 Sails
“We hope Tinian residents and visitors fully enjoy the Pika Fest celebration with all the delicacies and entertainment. We appreciate the opportunity to sail to Tinian to share a glimpse of the Marianas seafaring history. We hope to talk story and learn from one another about seafaring culture and traditions before, during, and after sailing. We look forward to meeting and reuniting with the Tinian community once again.
“Biba Pika Fest!”
For more information, check out the Community Calendar on 500Sails.org website, Facebook, or Instagram. You can also call (670)323-7245, or email info@500Sails.org/.
About 500 Sails
500 Sails is a 501(c)(3) and CNMI tax-exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to reviving, promoting, and preserving the maritime cultural traditions of the Mariana Islands through community engagement in canoe cultural values and activities. 500 Sails’ vision is a healthy thriving native community that has successfully integrated traditional cultural values into modern life. Major supporting partners include the CNMI Office of Indigenous Affairs and IT&E.
