Hikianalia Report: October 19, 6:00 PM HST: in the Horse Latitudes, heading NE by E with stronger than expected winds

Hikianalia is still making good progress due to stronger than expected winds.  Backing winds (meaning “moving counterclockwise around the compass”) have allowed us to adjust our course about twenty degrees more northerly.  Forecasted wind shifts over the next several days look promising for our run up through the Australs to Tahiti – we hope they are accurate!  Both canoes are doing well and the crews are learning a lot in addition to enjoying the voyage.  We especially enjoyed a gorgeous sunset tonight, complete with green flash, with Faafaite silhouetted perfectly on the blazing orange Sun.

Sail Data

• time:  2012-10-20 04:00 UTC/GMT (18:00 HST Oct 19)
• position: 30 degrees 44.2 minutes S 154 degrees 52.7 minutes W
• course: 055 degrees True (backing winds from NNW to NW are allowing us to pinch a little more northward, as we had hoped)
• speed: 5 knots
• weather: overcast, light rain
• wind: backing to NW, 10 to 15 knots, comes and goes
• sea state: NW swells 6 to 8 feet, SE swells 6 to 8 feet, NE swells 2 to 4 feet, wind chop N and NW
• vessel and crew condition:  all ok (Faafaite also)

Education Data

• 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: Few today.
• Marine Debris: None seen today.