Last week, the Berkeley Boathouse had the honor of hosting master builder Mario Burhan and his student Chris
Guerrero, members of 500 Sails — an organization from Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the traditional sailing craft of the Chamorro people.
Their visit was part of a weeklong Bay Area cultural festival produced in collaboration with the UC Berkeley Center for New Media and Geography Department, bringing together members of the local Chamorro community and the broader Bay Area public.
At the Boathouse, Mario and Chris led a session on the history of Marianas canoes and shared how they’re designed (including the mathematics behind their construction), built, and sailed. They also brought along beautiful five-foot scale models showcasing traditional building techniques.
Galvanizing our community by sharing rich nautical history, craft, and culture is at the heart of what we do at Waterside Workshops, and this event was a beautiful example of that work.
It was an honor for the Boatshop to host this event – thank you to 500 Sails, UC Berkeley, and everyone who joined us!
