Chasing The Ana Team Post Day One
Published August 1, 2007 | 
foto: Mayoleth (white faced) & Almestica at the launch
Levittown Puerto Rico
August 1, 2007
10:00 am
Team Post – Day One
A slightly delayed launching of ”Chasing the Ana Puerto Rico 2007” officially took off as a communications radio announces afternoon predicted thunderstorms, and a small craft advisory with swells 5 to 7 feet. The launch, originally scheduled for 6 am, was delayed due to an inability to access the put-in until after 8:30am.
”Great way to start an expedition” said Derrick Mayoleth, as paddling partner Taino Almestica waits in calm waters of a protected bay for Mayoleth to secure his gear and get in the water.
Almestica and Mayoleth met face to face for the first time just the day before at the home of José Quiñonez of http://www.kayakscuba.com/ where they went over ocean charts, discussed possibilities and shared a beer in anticipation of the next 28 days of sun and water.
Ground support crew Nydia Kien of Wisconsin, Yvonne R. Le Guillou of Guayama, PR, Carrie Medina, and José Medina of San Sebastián, PR arranged for lodging, food, transportation, interpretation, last minute gear, and a blessing ceremony by Uatibili Baez of http://www.movijibo.org/ the day before.
When asked why he was taking on such an expedition, Almestica said, ‘’ I am not doing this for self recognition, but for the Taino people… the younger people who will be watching this. I want them to say, ‘I saw his circumnavigation of our homeland, and I know my ancestors paddled these same seas, and I think I can do it faster or better’.’’ Almestica said, ‘’I want to inspire the Taino youth to reclaim their ancestral culture.’’ This expedition was originally planned by Mayoleth who has the hope of ‘’Bridging the cultural gaps between Puerto Rico and the USA.’’ From the words of ground support crew member Carrie Medina, ‘’It is doing just that, even before the launch day, as peoples from 3 differing cultures (Indio, Puerto Rico and midwest USA) and 2 countries are coming together developing bonds of friendship, enhanced by our differences.’’
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