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Help start a fleet of eco-friendly catamarans to reconnect remote island communities through the lost art of the wind.
Sailing Catamarans in the South Pacific pre-date nearly all other civilizations by millennia. Their migratory voyages are legendary. Sail boat design and maritime tradition forms the basis of our modern world, pre-dating the coal- based economy and overland transport. Additionally, sail powered vessels and the fishing tradition link the modern worlds of Europe and America with traditional cultures such as Australia’s first people and Pacific Island cultures. These links seep down through generations.
Fuel needs for island-based nations have been quoted at up to 18% of GDP and this is unsustainable. The staple form of transport throughout the island communities of the South Pacific is the longboat with a big outboard. Whilst great multi-use vessels, they are very expensive to run and fuel is often difficult to get. We don’t aim to replace the workhorse of the South Pacific, just add an economic, eco-friendly alternative.
Sea Mercy’s Amatasi Project links benevolent international community groups with remote communities in Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji and other Pacific island nations to create a new possibility through a simple-to-build, cost-efficient catamaran, the Amatasi 27, designed by award winning catamaran designer James Wharram. Once assembled, these boats will serve the communities they are based in with essential services (such as school and emergency transport) and new opportunities (such as sailing education and expanded access to future programming).
This is a unique opportunity to be the flagship supporter for the first pilot vessel, currently targeted to be constructed in Tonga in summer 2022. Not only will this boat serve the local Tonga community, it will also act as an ambassador example for other communities and islands throughout the region as the program grows over the next year. Our flagship supporter for this particular boat will have the opportunity not just to participate in the building experience but also to show their presence and role at the front of this movement. Together, we will show a tangible way to renew sustainable wind-powered transport, connect and revere cultural heritage and serve alongside local communities to create a resilient future across the South Pacific.
