The First Annual Yap Canoe Festival is now over and many people witnessed a sight that has not been seen in Yap for nearly 100 years--- our bay dotted with our own traditional sailing canoes. The art of canoe construction and sailing that once permeated this island, was reaching near extinction as it already has in many island nations in the Pacific.

But thanks to many people, including visitors who came to Yap to participate in our festival, we are once again standing strong in preserving this very important aspect of our culture.

The Traditional Navigation Society, and the Yap Visitor’s Bureau along with the traditional chief councils of Pilug and Tamol, worked together to bring this celebrated event to Yap.

With the completion of this event, we are now confident that with continued efforts and support, this essential part of the Yapese culture will be duly preserved and we can continue to instill the pride of Yapese culture and heritage in our youth.

Please join us again next year on October 22,23, and 24 for our 2nd annual canoe festival, and please tell your friends to come and join us as we celebrate our navigational heritage.

The BBC Reports: Yap Canoe Festival

The Global Post Reports: Yap Canoe Festival

You should have been there. We had fun... More Pictures And its all thanks to our Sponsors... NONOEW (TOY CANOE) RACE Triple B Shipping ADULT TOTANG RACE Palau Shipping Co. BOYS 2 PERSON TOTANG RACE Yap Cancer Program BOYS 1 PERSON TOTANG RACE Congressman Joseph J. Urusemal BAMBOO RAFT RACE Senator Clement Mulalap GIRLS 2 PERSON KAYAK RACE Congressman Joseph J. Urusemal GIRLS 1 PERSON KAYAK RACE Yap Cancer Program SM. TRAD. SAILING CANOE RACE Yap Cancer Program MED. TRAD. SAILING CANOE RACE Matson Shipping Co. TRAD. VOYAGING CANOE RACE Rize Diving Center SM. TRAD. PADDLING CANOE RACE Diving Seagull, Inc. 500 M. INT’L PADDLING RACE Oasis Restaurant 1500 M. INT’L PADDLING RACE Diving Seagull, Inc. LONG DISTANCE INT’L PADDLING RACE Diving Seagull, Inc. CANOE CARVING DEMO/WORKSHOP TNS CAPSIZING A CANOE DEMO Diving Seagull, Inc. TRADITIONAL CANOE PADDLING W/S Senny's Store COCONUT OIL MAKING DEMO/WORKSHOP Diving Seagull, Inc. (partial) LOCAL MASSAGE DEMO Traders Ridge Resort ROPE MAKING DEMO AND WORKSHOP Historic Preservation Office VOYAGE FOOD PREP DEMO/WORKSHOP T-Company Outer Island WEAVING DEMO AND WORKSHOP EMI Enterprises TYING DEMO AND WORKSHOP Historic Preservation Office Main Island WEAVING DEMO AND WORKSHOP Sea Bridge Inc. TRADITIONAL ATTIRE DISPLAY Sea Bridge Inc. LAVA-LAVA WEAVING DEMO/WORKSHOP EMI Enterprises TRADITIONAL CANOE SAILING W/S Traders Ridge Resort CANOE TOURS TNS SWEET TUBA TASTING YWA OPENING CEREMONY O'keefes Waterfront Inn and Kanteen FRIDAY EVENING CEREMONY Yap Chamber of Commerce SATURDAY EVENING CEREMONY YVB CLOSING CEREMONY Bank of the FSM PROGRAM PRINTING FSM Congress, Yap Delegation PROGRAM DESIGN Yap Art Studio & Gallery 720 FEET OF 1/4" ROPE FOR RACE COURSE MARKING FSM Development Bank 10 GAL GASOLINE Sebastian Tamagken 20 GAL GASOLINE Bank of the FSM 15 CASES OF WATER Speaker Isaac Figir, Telecom, Sen. John Mooteb SAFETY BOAT 1 Speaker Charles Chieng SAFETY BOAT 2 Mechoqol Canoe Club SAFETY BOAT 3 Nature's Way SAFETY BOAT 4 Nature's Way SAFETY BOAT 5 FMI 12 STOP WATCHES Diving Seagull, Inc. 12 WHISTLES Yap Volleyball Federation VHF RADIO 1 Microtech VHF RADIO 2 Yap State Hospital 10 - LIFE VESTS Public Work/Microspirit KAYAKS Traders Ridge Resort CASH DONATIONS FSM JICA Alumni CASH DONATIONS Yap Business Association CASH DONATIONS Bank of Guam CASH DONATIONS Pathways Hotel Please let us know if we have missed your name in these listings so we can set the record straight. More Pictures