FOUR students on Saturday, Feb. 8, completed the 10-week-long Basic Traditional Seamanship program, also known as Lalayak, offered by 500 Sails and Northern Marianas College’s Community Development Institute.
The program began on Nov. 30 with a swim test and open water tread. Over the course of the program, the students took part in a mix of in-class lessons and hands-on sailing. Topics included point of sail, knot tying, safety, lashing the mast and sail, maneuvering the canoe, man-overboard scenarios, capsizing and righting the canoe, and more.
The four students are Anna Deleon Guerrero, Lianalynn Muna, India Staunton and her husband Blane Goldman.
On Saturday, the students completed the program by sailing the canoe Anaguan from Crowne Plaza in Garapan to the Guma Sakman in Susupe.
Muna, 19, said the program has helped her feel connected to her culture. She is an employee of 500 Sails and originally became involved with the nonprofit as a participant in the CNMI PSS Co-op program.
“Part of the reason why [I joined] is because it’s in my blood,” she said. “So when I heard about this, I was like, yes I need to join.”
She said the program made her feel closer to her culture.
Goldman told Variety he is “thankful and proud” to participate in the Lalayak program.
“I moved here with my wife in June, and I would say that 500 Sails is the best experience we’ve had on the island,” he said. “It’s the best people we’ve met and it’s something that we’re going to continue doing for the rest of our lives here.”
Goldman wants to join 500 Sails when it sails to Tinian for the Pika Festival, which is set for Feb. 14-15.
Muna said she is joining the Pika Fest sail as well.
Like Muna, Deleon Guerrero said the program helped her feel closer to her culture.
Deleon Guerrero is originally from Saipan but now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Variety featured her last year after she auditioned for the live action “Moana” movie. She came back to Saipan late in 2024 for an extended stay on island.
“It has reconnected me to my roots,” she said, referring to the Lalayak program. “A lot of us growing up Chamorro and Carolinian — we didn’t know we were descended from navigators. I feel a lot more grounded in myself” after completing the course, she said. “It’s kind of given me a lot of courage. And when you’re on the canoe…it’s you and the world and you’re working together. It’s a whole collaborative effort, and for me having a theater background, we collaborate, and this is like taking it to a next level. Now you have to learn the elements and you have to learn the water and you have to learn your sailing technique. It’s given me a lot more courage and strength.”
She said it’s “insane” that even though she didn’t land a part in the live action production of “Moana,” she still gets to sail like the character.
“It’s so funny because there really is a plan you don’t know about,” Deleon Guerrero said. “I didn’t get that gig but because I didn’t get that gig, I got to come home and live the real thing. In the movie there’s this moment where she’s running around and going nuts because she’s just found out ‘oh my God, we were voyagers!’ and that’s literally us.”
From left Anna Deleon Guerrero, Lianalynn Muña, Blane Goldman and wife India Staunton
The four students who completed the Lalayak program — a 10-week-long Basic Traditional Seamanship course — pose for a photo with staff from 500 Sails and Northern Marianas College’s Community Development Institute.
The students took the traditional canoe Anåguan, background, from Crowne Plaza to Susupe.
