Sakman
Sakman,better known in western sources asflying proas,are traditionalsailingoutrigger boatsof theChamorro peopleof theNorthern Marianas.They are characterized by a singleoutriggerand acrab claw sail.They are the largest native sailing ships (ladjak) of the Chamorro people. Followed by the slightly smallerlelekand the medium-sizedduding.[1]They are similar to other traditional sailing ships of Micronesia, like thewa,baurua,and thewalap.These ships were once used for trade and transportation between islands.
Description[edit]
Sakmanwas asingle-outriggerboat. Its basic design consists of a very narrowdugout canoewhich served as the main hull, to which anoutriggerwas attached on one side. The main hull was typically around 30 to 40 ft (9.1 to 12.2 m) long, but only around 2 ft (0.61 m) wide and 3 ft (0.91 m) deep. It had a single mast known as thepalu,and asteering oarknown as theumulin.A platform was usually built on the spars connecting the main hull and the outrigger, which was used to carry cargo and passengers.[2]
The hull was typically painted with protective designs in white, black, red, and orange usingochre,lime (afok), andcoconut oiland soot. It was rigged with acrab claw sailmade from woven mats ofpandanusleaves (akgak). The canoes were usually made fromdokdok(breadfruit) trees. They were hollowed out and carved by men. The sails (layak) were woven by women.[2]
The main hull was asymmetrical on its left and right sides to counteract the drag of the outrigger float. However, it was symmetrical at both ends, which meant the boat can be sailed in reverse. This was a necessity to accomplish theshuntingtechnique, in which the outrigger was always kept windward. This allowed the boats to sailleewardwithout having to turn the ship.[2]
History[edit]
Thesakmanwere the very first Pacificoutrigger boatsencountered by Europeans. TheVenetianscholarAntonio Pigafetta,who was part ofFerdinand Magellan's 1519–1522 circumnavigation, mistakenly described theoutriggerhull as a "small boat fastened astern". Magellan's crew were impressed by the ships' speed, maneuverability, and their ability to reverse directions. They were the first accounts that described thesakmanas "flying."[3]Further accounts by the Spanish described thesakmanas being capable of sailing fromGuamtoManilain only four days, averaging more than 20 mi (32 km) per hour.[2]
During his1740–1744 circumnavigation,Lord Ansonapplied the termproato thesakman.His fleet captured one in 1742, andLt. Peircy BrettofHMSCenturionmade a detailed sketch of it.[4]Rev. Richard Walter, chaplain of HMSCenturion,estimated the speed of thesakmanat twenty miles per hour (32 km/h).[1]Although aware of earlierSpanish accountsof the boats of theSpanish East Indies,Anson's account was the first detailed description of asakmanto the English-speaking world.[5]These accounts fascinated both the British and American public, ushering in a period of interest in the design bysports sailors.Working from the drawings and descriptions of explorers, western builders often took liberties with the traditional designs, merging their interpretation of native designs with Western boat building methods. Thus this Western "proa" often diverged radically from thesakmanto the point that the only shared feature was the windward/leeward hull arrangement.[5]
TheChamorropopulation was near-decimated during theSpanish colonial periodafter the ravages of epidemics of European diseases, as well as wars with the Spanish. The Spanish also forbade thesakmanto be sailed in open ocean, leading to the eventual erosion of sailing skills. The techniques of buildingsakmanand other traditional sailing ships were lost some time during the 19th century.[6][7]However, there have been attempts in modern times to revive thesakmantraditions. The firstsakmanto be built after nearly 200 years was theSaina,which was built between 2007 and 2008.[7]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abHenry Coleman Folkard (1870).The sailing boat: a description of English and foreign boats.Longmans & Co., London. pp.242–249.
- ^abcdBevacqua, Michael Lujan."Agad'na: Canoe Builders".Guampedia.Retrieved23 June2019.
- ^Emma Helen Blair; James Alexander Robertson; Edward Gaylord Bourne (1906).The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803: Explorations by Early Navigators.A. H. Clark Co. p.99.
- ^"History: Drake and Anson".Retrieved2007-10-26.
- ^abCharnock, John (1802).An History of Marine Architecture.London: R. Faulder. pp. 313–316.
- ^Goetzfridt, Nicholas J."Proa and Navigation".Guampedia.Retrieved22 June2019.
- ^abRoberts, Brian Russell; Stephens, Michelle Ann, eds. (2017). "Shades of Paradise".Archipelagic American Studies.Duke University Press.ISBN9780822373209.
