Hikianalia Report: October 19, 6:00 AM HST: “heading north toward the Australs …”

Moving along well.  We are entering phase two of the voyage; we will start heading north toward the Australs (Tubuai Islands).

Sail Data

• time: 2012-10-19 05:50 UTC/GMT (05:50 HST Oct 19)
• position: 31 degrees 12.6 minutes S 156 degrees 03.3 minutes W
• course: 070 degrees True through the night
• speed: Average 7.5 knots
• weather: clear half of the night,10 –2 watch, clouded with passing
• cumulus clouds, air dry and cool
• wind: NW 15 to 25 knots
• sea state: SW swell diminished to 6-8 feet, NW swell is also 6-8 feet, and more of a northerly wind chop
• vessel and crew condition: all ok (Faafaite also)

Education Data

• Celestial Observations, Navigation Stars, Planets and Moon Phases:

Our heading for much of the night was Aina Koolau.  The 6 to 10 watch steered toward the east almost exclusively while facing back towards the west.  Most of our steering was done using the setting Moon and Lehuakona (Antares) in Kamakaunuiamaui (Scorpio).  When clouds obscured that part of the sky, we looked over the starboard beam and steered by Kealiiokonaikalewa (Canopus).

We also used the kū moon (see Hawaiian Lunar Month), which was shining bright for the beginning part of the night in the constellation Scorpio.  At times, clouds covered the moon, but the glow could still be seen on the water.

Click on Star Chart to Enlarge. (Sky Image from SkyGazer 4.5, Carina Software)

Orion was once again used as it rose for much of the 10pm-2am watch.

Patchy clouds kept covering our steering stars during the 2 am to 6 am watch, so we alternated between using Kamaile Mua and Kamaile Hope to the south, Venus to the east, and Aries to the north.

• Animal Life: None noted.
• Sea Birds and Sea Life: An albatross greeted the bow of the canoe at sunrise. Marine Debris: None observed overnight.