Leg 31 Navigation Updates

Day 11

24 hour nav update: May 27 6 am to May 28 6am 5/26

Total distance travelled along reference course: 1114 nmi, 57 mi west of reference course
(reference course starts at northern point of Tikehau at approx. 9am on May 19)

Average speed: 5 knots

Wind: Variable. For most of yesterday we had light winds of about 10 knots. The winds were shifty, and clocked further south during mid-day. By mid-morning it was back to Lā Koʻolau.

Heading: Variable. Nā Leo Koʻolau.

Lee drift: ½-1 house

Swell: Noio-ʻĀina Koolau, 6 ft, NE swell this morning. Noio Malanai, 8 ft, SE swell; Nā Leo Malanai 10-12 ft yesterday (difficult to pick out this morning)

Course made: Variable, Haka to Haka/Nā Leo Koʻolau

Clouds: 30% cloud coverage, cumulus at sunrise. Throughout the night cloud coverage was about 10%. The horizon was a little hazy but for the most part stars could be seen twinkling as low as a few degrees above the horizon.

Wildlife: ʻEwa ʻewa, boobies, ʻiwa, and few bites on the line but no takes.

Latitude: We calculated latitude two ways. 1) measured Kumau or the North star at 3 degrees last night, 2) based upon dead reckoning we believe at sunrise we are a little above 3 degrees.

We believe based upon these measurements that we are just north of 3 N at sunrise. We’ve started the second portion of our reference course. The shifty winds yesterday may be a sign that we are close to the doldrums. However, after sunset and into this morning we’ve had consistent ESE tradewinds!

Day 12

24 hour nav update: May 28 6 am to May 29 6am

Total distance travelled along reference course: 1291 nmi, 21 mi west of reference course

Distance along 2nd segment of reference course (ʻĀkau- 360 nm from 3N to 9 N): 118 nmi, 21 nmi west

Average speed: 6 knots

Wind: Lā Koʻolau. 15-20, variable speeds due to squalls.

Heading: Nā Leo Koʻolau.

Lee drift: ½-1 house

Swell: NE, Noio-ʻĀina Koʻolau swell, 6 ft this morning. SE swell, Nā Leo Malanai 8 ft (less consistent and getting a little more difficult to pick out this morning). Hikina wind swell, 4 ft. Inconsistent northerly swell hits the front portion of the canoe every now and then.

Course made: Haka/Nā Leo Koʻolau

Clouds: 10% or less cumulus clouds up until midnight. Clear horizon. After midnight the squalls began increasing cloud coverage to 80-100%. Cumulus clouds still dominate. Squall clouds exhibit some vertical development.

Wildlife- ʻEwa ʻewa, boobies, ʻiwa, and few bites on the line but no takes.

Latitude: We calculated latitude two ways. 1) measured Kūmau or the North star at 4 degrees last night. 2) based upon dead reckoning we believe at sunrise we are a little above 4 degrees.

Day 13

24 hour nav update from May 29 6am to May 30 6am

Total distance travelled along reference course: 1411 nmi, 4 mi west of reference course

Distance along 2nd segment of reference course (ʻĀkau- 360 nm from 3N to 9 N): 239 nmi, 4 nmi west

Average speed: 5 knots

Wind: Lā Koʻolau. 15-20, variable speeds due to squalls.

Heading: Haka Koʻolau.

Lee drift: 1 house

Swell: NE, Noio-ʻĀina Koʻolau swell 8-12 ft, increased since yesterday.

Course made: ʻĀkau

Clouds: At sunset nearly every type of cloud was present- upper level cirrus, mid level alto and strato cumulus, and low level cumulus. Due to multiple squalls, cloud coverage was variable. In between squalls there was less than 20% cloud coverage allowing us to steer off the stars and the moon during the mid day. Prior and during squalls, cloud coverage increased to 80-100%.

Wildlife: ʻEwa ʻewa, boobies, ʻiwa, and ʻuaʻu kani. Caught a small mahi in the debris line. Jumping squid are still present at night when we shine our lights to check speed.

Throughout the day we sailed through a debris line- foam and plastic fish floats, a gallon plastic milk carton, and a 55 gallon metal drum.

Latitude: We calculated latitude two ways. 1) Kūmau or the North star was measured at about 7 degrees last night, 2) based upon dead reckoning we believe at sunrise we are a little above 7 degrees.

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