The Flying Proa

In 1998, the Flying Proa II was constructed to celebrate the original 1898 Flying Proa. As one of the first multi-hulled vessels built in the United States, Munroe’s designs were a rebellious show of what was possible. 

With a group of 30 bold volunteers from the Multi-Hull Association of Southern Florida, the project was truly a labor of love. From finding the original designs to adapting to the building materials available, it was quite the effort. 

Proas are a special type of vessel used primarily by early Austronesian people. As Austronesians explored the Pacific, the proa design changed to adapt to the motion of the ocean. The proas built by Ralph Munroe are based loosely on the Marshall Islands’ design. 

The Proa design generally has one vaka – the canoe-like body, and one ama – the arm extended from the body. These vessels are designed for the highest utilization of wind power possible. From the sail shape to the weight of each piece on the vessel, a proa was one of the most efficient vessel design possible.