August 17-24: Hōkūle‘a Training Sails Continue
In anticipation of Hōkūleʻa going back into dry dock on Tuesday, September 4, crew training sails are continuing through the end of August.
August 24
Pwo Navigator Bruce Blankenfeld captained an overnight training sail pairing new comers with experienced crew members.
This sail was conducted in waters south of Honolulu in moderate trade winds (wind out of the East North East between 10-20 knots).
On this sail the crew practiced steering by moving weight around the canoe, with the dual hulls of the canoe acting as the steering mechanism. The crew moved weight (bodies and equipment) forward or backward. With the bow or stern riding lower in the water, the direction of the canoe changed. With the weight balanced to head the canoe in the direction that the navigator wanted to sail, the steering team didn’t have to man the sweep to hold the course.
(Click on any image to enlarge it and access a slide show of images in this post.)
Makaliʻi transfer Kalā Thomas, helping Dr. Kawika Zunin to understand the various lines. © Monte Costa.
Hokulea sunrise. Photo credit: Kaleo Wong
Sunrise. Photo credit: Kaleo Wong
Ho‘okele. Photo credit: Kaleo Wong
Iosepa, left, and Hōkūleʻa, right, approach each other for a sunrise greeting.
Crew members doing the Hōkūleʻa Ai Haʻa to greet Iosepa outside of Lēʻahi (Diamond Head). © Monte Costa.
August 21-22
Captain Bob Perkins conducted two training sails with a mix of experienced and new crew. Since Hōkūle‘a was put back into the water last March and with greater public knowledge of the upcoming Worldwide Voyage (WWV), new crew candidates have come to the Marine Education Training Center (METC); the mixing of experienced and new crew members speeds up the learning curve of new crew members.
Cew member and Apprentice Navigator Haunani Kāne, in black, giving new crew members pointers on steering the canoe.
Crew member Michi Wong, in white, teaching one of our new medical officers how to handle and secure the jib sheet line.
Crew member Adam Jenkins, in white, discussing with Diane Tom-Ogata the operations at the bow.
Matt Kanemoto hanging out after helping to raise the jib
Escort boat Hoʻokela training: Captain Moani Hemuli, in black, has taught many crew members how to prepare and handle the escort boat.
August 17-18
Overnight training sail out of METC gave new crew a glimpse of life aboard the canoe on a long voyage. On these overnighters, we run our watch systems, cook various meals, fish, run emergency drills such as the Man Over Board drill, and get a feel for the rhythm of life at sea.
New escort boat crew members Kaiwi Hamakua-Makuʻe and Dylan Farias, looking out for boat traffic in Mamala bay,
Crew members Lehua Kamalu and Mark Kimura swimming to the man over board pole
Adam Jenkins bringing in the man over board ring after a drill
Captain Moani Hemuli and first mate Waimea McKeague on Hoʻokela
Bob and Adam
Mark Keala Kimura happy as ever
Michi Wong cooking dinner on Hōkūleʻa for the first time.
Adam and Liz raising the stay sail off the back mast between the main and missen sails
Maggie Pulver and new crew members Trevor williams, blue shorts, and Darienne Dey, green shirt steering.
Crew members Dr. Ira Kawika Zunin and Mark Kimura readying a jib to raise on Bobʻs sail.
Waimea setting out lines off the escort boat at sunset
Jason Patterson (sitting) and Bob Perkins (standing)
Crew Members Brenda Smith and Tamiko Fernelius learning to use the steering sweep
