WORLD 14th VA'A/OUTRIGGER CHAMPIONSHIP

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The 14th World Va’a/outrigger canoe sprint championship has been held from 25 to 29 May 2010 in Noumea, New Caledonia.
Va’a is the Tahitian word for an outrigger canoe.
The Va’a have always been an integral part of Polynesian culture, nowadays mostly used only for racing Va’a made of wood sometimes decked and fitted out with mast and sails,.
The va’a which could have a length of 30 meters were in the olden time used for fishing and transport of cargo and people and roaming the Pacific from one island to a other. They own their stability to a float or outrigger fastened to the left side of the hull.

This event is every two year organized by the International Federation of Outriggers, with the presence of more as 2000 sportsmen and women, from 32 countries.
53 Races are planned for this championship which will take five days in Noumea on the waters of l’Anse-Vata bay.
Thousands of spectators will watch the races from the beach along the bay and to encourage the paddlers of all ages, which will take part in various competitions.
Va’s racing can be an individual or team sport, involving crews of 3, 6 or 12 paddlers.

The URL below has more info on the outrigger.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outrigger_canoeing

New Caledonia 2010 75 F sg?, scott?

Source: various web-sites and New Caledonia Post web-site.