Hikianalia Report: October 20, 6:00 PM HST: in shifting winds, heading NE by N

Wind shifts have allowed us to adjust to a more northerly course closer to the bearing to the Australs enroute to Tahiti.  Shifting winds provided us training opportunities today, as we adjusted the sails we flew several times to efficiently use what wind was available.

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Sail Data

• time:  2012-10-21 04:00 UTC/GMT (18:00 HST Oct 20)
• position: 29 degrees 42.3 minutes S 153 degrees 37.1 minutes W
• course: 035 degrees True
• speed: 6 knots
• weather: overcast, cool
• wind: South 10 to 15 knots
• sea state: SW swells 6 to 8 feet, W wind swells 2 to 4 feet, seas mellow and comfortable
• 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: When we scooped a bucket of seawater to wash dishes, we caught the smallest fish you can imagine – too small to identify.  We returned him to the sea.
• Sea Birds and Sea Life: Few today.
• Marine Debris: A plastic milk carton with some monofilament fishing line attached floated by the canoe.