Walap

The Walap is a traditional ocean-going sailing outrigger canoe from the Marshall Islands.

It belongs to the Micronesian proa type whose main characteristics are: single main hull, outrigger-mounted float/ballast, and asymmetric hull profile. Walaps have a lee platform.

Like all pacific proas, they are always sailed with the outrigger to windward; they do not tack but "shunt" (reverse direction), so both ends of the boat are identical. The distinction between bow and stern depends only on the heading of the boat.

Walaps are not dugouts; only the keel is made of a single bread-fruit log when possible, and the rest are planks sewn together with coconut-fiber lashings, sealed with tree sap.

There are three main types of marshallese sailing canoes:

• Korkor: a small rowing/sailing canoe used for fishing and transportation in the atoll lagoons. It has a crew of one or two. Used nowadays in very popular regattas.
• Tipnol: a medium-sized sailing canoe. Used for travel and fishing in the lagoons and short distance voyaging over open water. Minimum crew is two, may transport up to ten passengers.
• Walap: a large, blue-water sailing canoe, reaching up to 30 m in length and able to carry up to 50 people and food supplies for up to seven months. Used mainly for inter-atoll voyaging.

These types can vary in design, mainly slenderness of the hull, draft deep and hull-profile asymmetry.

Five recognized styles exist: taburbur, malmel, mwijwitok, tojeik and jekad.^[1]

Walaps may well represent the most advanced sailing technology of all stone-age cultures, only equaled by Fiji's drua.

External links

• program to revive traditional sailing in the Marshall Islands
• photos
• walap models
• anaglyphs and stereo-pairs of a walap
• tipnols

References

• v
• t
• e

Austronesian ships

Ship types
Taiwan Kavalan Mangka Thao Ruza Tao Ipanitika Tatara Island Southeast Asia Brunei Bajak Bangkong Gubang Jong Kakap Penjajap Tongkang Indonesia Abak Bagan Bago Bajak Bangkong Banting Benawa Borobudur ship Cerucuh Chialoup Eloha Fakatora Ghali Ghurab Golekan Janggolan Jellore Jong Jongkong Juanga Jukung Jukung tambangan Kakap Kalulis Kelulus Kolay Kolekole Knabat bogolu Kora kora Kotta mara K'un-lun po Lancang Lancaran Lepa Lepa-Lepa Leti leti Lis-alis Londe Malangbang Mayang Orembai Padewakang Paduwang Pajala Paledang Penjajap Pangkur Patorani Pelang Pencalang Perahu Pinisi Lambo Palari Sampan panjang Sandeq Sarua Sekong Solu Teneh Tongkang Toop Malaysia Bajak Bangkong Banting Bedar Buggoh Birau Cerucuh Ghali Ghurab Jong Juanga Kakap Kolek Lancang Lancaran Lepa Pelang Pencalang Penjajap Perahu payang Perahu tambangan Pinas Sampan panjang Tongkang Moken Kabang Philippines Armadahan Avang Awang Balación Balangay (Barangay) Baloto Bangka Bangka anak-anak Basnigan Batil Bigiw Bilo Birau Biray Biroko (Birok, Bidok) Buggoh Casco Chinarem Chinedkeran Dinahit Djenging (Balutu) Falua Garay Guilalo Juanga Junkun Junkung Karakoa Kulibo Lanong Lapis Lepa (Kumpit, Pidlas) Ontang Owong Panineman Pasaplap Pangayaw Paraw Salambaw Salisipan Sapyaw Seberen Tapake Tataya Tempel Tilimbao (Tinimbao) Tiririt (Buti) Vinta (Dapang, Pilang) Singapore Sampan panjang Tongkang Island Melanesia Admiralty Islands Endrol Kel Fiji Camakau Drua (Waqa tabu) Takia Green Islands Kǒp Tsǐne Papua New Guinea Lakatoi Solomon Islands Binabina Lisi (Solima) Tepukei Tomako (Mon, Ora) Vanuatu Aka Angga Wangga Micronesia Caroline Islands Wa Wahr Waserak Kiribati Baurua Marshall Islands Korkor Tipnol Walap Northern Marianas Duding Duduli Galaideʻ (Agaraide) Ladjak Lelek Panga Sakman (Flying proa) Palau Kaep Wa Yap Chugpin Popow Wa Polynesia Cook Islands Vaka Vaka katea Hawaii Mālia Waʻa Waʻa kaulua Marquesas Vaka touʻua New Zealand Waka Waka hourua Waka taua Waka tīwai Samoa ʻalia Amatasi Fautasi Laʻau Lualua (Foulua) Paopao Vaʻa Vaʻa-alo Vaʻa-tele Society Islands Ivahah Pahi Tipairua Vaʻa Tonga Hamatafua Kalia Pōpao Tongiaki Tuvalu Paopao Madagascar Malagasy Lakana Sakalava Laka fiara		Ipanitika Hōkūleʻa Paraw Wa Padewakang

Ship construction & sailing

Rigging Crab claw sail Junk rig Pinisi rig Tanja sail Hull Catamaran Lashed-lug boat Multihull Outrigger Outrigger boat Polynesian multihull terminology Proa Sewn boat Trimaran Navigation Fealofani Bruun Hipour List of Māori waka Makassan contact with Australia Māori migration canoes Marshall Islands stick chart Mau Piailug Polynesian navigation Rapwi Weriyeng Yapese navigation Trade Austronesian maritime trade network Hiri trade cycle Kula ring Lapita trade network Lingling-o Maritime Silk Road Sa Huynh-Kalanay Interaction Sphere Sepik Coast exchange Spice trade Trepanging Archaeology Balangay (Butuan boats) Borobudur ship Cirebon shipwreck Other Apilan Burulan Daramba Kota mara

Ship replicas

Cook Islands Maire Nui Marumaru Atua Tākitimu Te Au o Tonga Federated States of Micronesia Halametaw Quest Sailoam French Polynesia Faʻafaite Tahiti Nui Guam Saina Hawaii Alingano Maisu Hawaiʻiloa Hikianalia Hōkūleʻa Hokualakai Iosepa Makali'i Indonesia Alfred Wallace Hati Marege Nur Al Marege Samudra Raksa Spirit of Majapahit Malaysia Naga Pelangi New Zealand Aotearoa One Haunui Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti Pūmaiterangi Te Aurere Philippines Balatik Diwata ng Lahi Lahi ng Maharlika Masawa Hong Butuan Sama Tawi-Tawi Sarimanok Sultan sin Sulu Samoa Gaualofa

• See also:
• Lapita culture
• Domesticated plants and animals of Austronesia