Hikianalia Report: October 18, 6:00 PM HST: with better than expected winds, approaching 155° W

Click on the map to enlarge it. The farther east Hikianalia and Faafaite go, the better the point of sail in the southeast trade winds they will encounter after turning north toward Tahiti. (Click here for an explanation of point of sail.)

Hikianalia is making good progress due to stronger than expected winds.  We are again running parallel to the reference course, about 57 nautical miles south of that line.  We hope to reach our next phase line, 155 degrees West, tomorrow, where we will decide whether to turn north for Tubuai and Tahiti or continue eastward.  We will have to turn north at some point and face the possibility of lighter or contrary winds – the question is “when”?

Sail Data

• time:: 2012-10-19 04:00 UTC/GMT (18:00 HST Oct 18)
• position:  31 degrees 37.0 minutes S 157 degrees 31.4 minutes W
• course: 075 degrees True (favorable wind shift has allowed us to parallel our reference course)
• speed: 7.5 knots
• weather: mostly clear, dry, cold, will be clear tonight for stars, local cumulus
• wind: NW 10 to 15 knots
• sea state: SW swells 10 feet (diminishing), NW swells 6 to 8 feet (building)
• vessel and crew condition: all ok (Faafaite also)

Education Data

Determining the direction of ocean swells from celestial bodies allows the navigator to hold a course even when celestial bodies are not visible during the day. (See “Holding a Course“.)

• Celestial Observations, Navigation Stars, Planets and Moon Phases: sun only.  Today, we again steered principally by the wind and swells.
• Animal Life: None observed today.
• Sea Birds and Sea Life: Albatross, the piebald shearwater-like bird and other hunting seabirds continue to fish near the canoe.
• Marine Debris: None seen today.