Vaka (sailing)

A doubled hulled vaka in Rarotonga.

The vaka is the main hull of a multihull vessel.^[1]

Origin and use of the term

The term vaka comes from the pronunciation of the word waka and is derived from Polynesian, Malay and Micronesian languages for a 'canoe', 'ship' or 'boat.'

Other parts of a traditional vaka can include the aka and ama (outrigger).

A proa consists of a vaka, the main canoe-like hull; an ama, the outrigger; and akas, the poles connecting the ama to the vaka.^[1] The trimaran uses the same terminology, with a center vaka and amas and akas on each side. ^[2]

See also

• Polynesian navigation
• Waka (canoe)
• Hōkūleʻa

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "A primer on proas". Retrieved 2007-10-30. 
2. ↑ "The Tridarka Raider". Retrieved 2007-10-30.