Signals Magazine Issue 126

Page 3

A maritime Mordor Waves in the Gulf of Papua about to break over the outrigger. All images © Thor F Jensen

It was intense sailing and several surprise waves just appeared out of nowhere and crashed over our outrigger

2 Signals 126 Autumn 2019

Sailing the Gulf of Papua by traditional canoe

On 30 August 2016, Danish filmmaker Thor F Jensen and three Papua New Guinean master sailors embarked on the world’s first circumnavigation of the island of New Guinea in a traditional sailing canoe. Their modern-day odyssey covered 6,300 kilometres, took almost 14 months, and faced relentless monsoon winds, dangerous seas, pirates and crocodiles. This is an edited excerpt from Thor F Jensen’s forthcoming book and film of the journey, Salt Water and Spear Tips.

Australian National Maritime Museum 3