Historical voyage

A 20-person ipanitika, a traditional wooden plank vessel of the Indigenous Yami (Tao) tribe, undergoes a test sail off the coast of Orchid Island, Taitung County, in this undated photo. Typically built for 10 rowers or fewer, the vessel is the largest in modern history, and is set to attempt a historic crossing to the Philippine archipelago of Batanes in June, reviving an ancestral maritime route after over 300 years. Photo courtesy of Sige Umay May 1, 2026