We had good weather and great wind for sailing in the direction Captain and navigator Bruce Blankenfeld indicated: La Ko’olau or one house north of east.  (See On Wayfinding for the Hawaiian star compass and traditional navigation without instruments.)

We spent most of the day making 9 to 10 knots and covering good ground.  Both the canoe and the crew are becoming better each day, in their own right and collectively.  We have been extremely fortunate in that the first day was quite mellow and we could get our bearings and sea legs in calm conditions.  Today tested the canoe and the crew with stronger challenges, especially steering in stronger winds and slightly higher swells.  But, the conditions were still quite manageable – perfect for training and putting experience in the bank.

Sail Data

• position: 35.7811 degrees S 178.9553 degrees E
• course: 075 degrees True
• speed: 9 to 10 knots
• weather: clear sky above us
• wind: S winds have clocked to SW 15-20 knots and lightening
• sea state: SW swells  8-10 feet
• vessel and crew condition:  all ok (Faafaite also)

Education:

• Celestial Observations, Navigation Stars, Planets and Moon Phases: Stars just beginning to emerge. Hanaiakamalama and Ke Makau Nui o Maui are already bright overhead as this is written almost two hours after sunset.  With this clear sky, the star show will be amazing tonight.
• Animal Life: A small shark (estimated 3-feet long) cruised by on the surface with dorsal fin above the waterline.
• Sea Birds and Sea Life: More sea birds are fishing in this area.  An albatross accompanied us for about half an hour.  We’re not sure of the species, but its size and coloration were very similar to the Laysan albatross we see in Hawai’i.  We know they cruise from Hawai’i up toward Alaska.  Do they roam the Southern Pacific as well?
• Marine Debris: One small piece of plastic was seen.

This was a very interesting night of sailing with widely varying conditions from watch to watch.  The 6 pm to 10 pm watch experienced  light and variable winds, largely from the north but really all over the place.  The clouds were patchy, but beginning to fill in.  We were only averaging  about two knots and steering was not easy.  The 10 pm to 2 am watch saw the sky go to completely overcast, a light rain fell and winds lightened so that  they were only averaging about 1.5 knots.  During the 2 am to 6 am watch, the sky opened up except for a few clouds on the horizon.  Captain and navigator  Bruce Blankenfeld had lots of stars overhead to steer by and explain to the crew.  Winds settled down to south southwest (a really good direction for us)  and increased to 15 to 20 knots.  This has enabled us to average eight to nine knots this morning. It is truly an exhilarating feeling to experience this  new canoe and crew gliding along at good speed.

Sail Data

• position: 36.1076 degrees S 177.0397 degrees E
• course: 075 degrees True
• speed: 8.0 to 9.0 knots
• weather: clear overhead, some clouds on horizon
• wind: SSW 15-20
• sea state: NW swell 6 to 8 feet, SW swell 3-5  feet with wind chop
• vessel and crew condition: all ok (Faafaite also)

Education:

• Celestial Observations, Navigation Stars, Planets and Moon Phases: See progress report above.
• Animal Life:  None observed overnight.
•  Sea Birds and Sea Life: Gulls, Boobies, etc.
• Marine Debris: None observed

A slow, peaceful night of sailing gave the crew a chance to get to know our new canoe without the added challenges of strong wind or bad weather.  Everyone is doing a good job of getting used to steering, handling lines and performing their many other chores while bundled up in thick coats, multiple layers of long thermal undies, gloves and boots. It is quite a bit colder at these southern latitudes than the tropical waters where we normally sail.  Late afternoon bathing using cold, green seawater is certainly invigorating!

A good number of common dolphins swam with Hikianalia for about half and hour last night.  Their loud exhalations alerted us to their presence and we enjoyed watching them swim with us.

This morning, we are about 5 nautical miles from Channel Island in the Colville Channel, between Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula.  This is our exit from Hauraki Gulf and New Zealand into the Pacific Ocean. Next stop, Papeete.

Voyaging Data

position: 36.4369 S 175.2068 E (corrected 10/9 HST)

course: 055 degrees True

speed: 3.0 knots

weather: slight overcast

wind: light and  variable

sea state: calm

vessel and crew condition:  all ok (Faafaite also)

Education Data

Celestial Observations, Navigation Stars, Planets and Moon Phases: Lots of stars through the night.  Bruce taught us pointer stars for the cardinal directions.  Visible last night: Mars, Saturn, Ka Makau Nui O Maui (Scorpius), Hanaiakamalama (Southern Cross), the Navigator’s Triangle and plenty more.

Beautiful sunrise happening now.

Animal Life:  A good number of common dolphins swam with Hikianalia for about half and hour last night.  Their loud exhalations alerted us to their presence and we enjoyed watching them swim with us.

Sea Birds and Sea Life: Gulls, Boobies, etc.

Marine Debris: None observed

It’s wonderful to get underway, headed for Papeete, Tahiti, together with the Tahitian canoe, Faafaite.  Before getting underway, we participated in an ‘awa ceremony, which united the two vessels and crews into one ‘ohana.

After an amazing Maori oli by Awhitia Mihaere, a seabird similar to the koa’e we see at home circled the canoe — a great hō’ailona (sign).

Koa’e (For information about seabirds and other sealife, see  “Fish, Birds, and Mammals of the Open Ocean” at Hawaiian Voyaging Traditions.)

Awhitia and her husband, Manueu Suganuma, who hails from Hawai’i, were typical of so many who gave of their time and energies to support us in Aotearoa.  Another of those families, Ke‘ala Campton Baker and her daughter Tataiarangi, hailed us from an ancient Maori pā (fortress) as we sailed away into Hauraki Gulf.

position: 36.6528 degrees S 174.9118 degrees E (See tracking map and Google map under the “Hikianalia: Aotearoa to Hawai’i” in the top menu bar.)

course: 050 degrees True

speed: 2.5 knots

weather: clear

wind: NNE 0 to 5 knots

sea state: calm

vessel and crew condition:  all ok (Faafaite also)

Celestial Observations, Navigation Stars, Planets and Moon Phases: Lots of stars, Bruce is teaching us pointer stars for the cardinal directions. Visible now: Mars, Saturn, Ka Makau Nui O Maui (Scorpius), Hanaiakamalama (Southern Cross), the Navigator’s Triangle and plenty more.

Below: Hanaiakamalama (Southern Cross) and Ka Makau Nui O Maui (Scorpius). Click on the image to enlarge it. Image from Stellarium, a free desktop planetarium at stellarium.org. For Hawaiian names for constellations, see Hawaiian Star Lines at Hawaiian Voyaging Traditions.

Animal Life:  Dolphins

Sea Birds and Sea Life: Gulls, Boobies, etc.  A manu landed on our manu.

Booby (For information about seabirds and other sealife, see  “Fish, Birds, and Mammals of the Open Ocean” at Hawaiian Voyaging Traditions.)

Marine Debris: None observed