Floating circus on musical mission

STRINGY: Filmmaker Rowena Baines and circus performer Tomas Brescacin are seeking ukuleles in aid of Vanuatu. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A filmmaker has teamed up with a troupe of sailing circus performers from around the world, in an attempt to ship hundreds of ukuleles from Northland to cyclone-ravaged Vanuatu.

The 40-member Drifting Circus, who also call themselves the Alternative World Sailing Community, has been moored in Whangarei for about six months. Argentinian performer Tomas Brescacin said the fledgling community of two boats met in Panama in early 2014 and took 10 months to sail to Whangarei, stopping to perform in the Pacific Islands along the way.

"We went all through French Polynesia - always trying to spread music and how important it is to express yourself," he said.

The Port Rd-based sailing circus has put on workshops about circus skills and how to hitchhike on sailboats as a way of travelling the world.

Four more unwanted yachts have been bought or donated since the community arrived in New Zealand. They are being repaired as the community prepares to set sail again for the Pacific Islands. The circus has put on two shows since coming to Whangarei and performers are funding much of the repair work by busking.

Mr Brescacin linked up with Auckland-based filmmaker Rowena Baines while working at a series of music festivals in the summer.

Ms Baines is co-ordinating the Vanuatu Music Revival Project, an attempt to replace the many musical instruments destroyed in March by Cyclone Pam, which killed 13, and destroyed 96 per cent of food crops and thousands of homes. "Many musicians have lost their instruments, which bring joy in these hard times," she said. "Music is an important part of their rituals, celebrations and community life."

Ms Baines is seeking donated guitars and ukuleles, which will be transported to Vanuatu by the Drifting Circus and other Northland sailors heading to the islands.

Ms Baines and Mr Brescacin are travelling Northland and Auckland filming the donation process and will then go to Vanuatu to continue filming as the instruments are donated.

"Every donation that's made, we're saying what the item was and which boat it goes on and the contact details - as we won't be able to sail around filming every single delivery, but we want to know where they end up," Ms Baines said.

Contact rowenabaines@gmail.com to donate a ukulele or guitar, or if you can help with transport to Vanuatu.