November 3: “… calm, peaceful sailing, with easy steering …”
Tahiti-to-Hilo crew awaiting the arrival of Hikianalia at Mahina Bay. Photo by Mark Keala Kimura.
November 2: Sunset Report
We had a very calm, peaceful sail today with easy steering. The wind is still forcing us to sail further west than we would prefer. We are off our course line by about 47 nautical miles and are looking for any opportunity to pinch more easterly. See the Tracking Map. The new crewmembers are settling in and feeling right at home.
We caught an ono – which also tasted ono. Only a few terns and boobies at sea. One bird pile was working hard but they were off our course.
Happy Birthday, Cindy Perkins, from the Captain and crew! Hau’oli la hanau!
- course: 005 degrees True
- speed: 7 knots
- weather: mostly clear overhead now but large families of puffy, moisture-bearing cumulus clouds have been pass in from east to west all day – we are now between two bands of these clouds to our east and west, several gentle showers bathed us today, no high clouds, warm
- wind: East 10-15 knots
- sea state: North-East 4 to 5 feet, more established and prominent; East 1 to 2 feet, South 1 to 2 feet, very gentle rollers – easy steering.
November 3: Sunrise Report
Our crew enjoyed another gentle night of smooth sailing and easy steering. Between 6 pm and 6 am, we gained 68.5 nautical miles on a heading of due north. A little better, but still west of our desired course line. The wind is a little tricky – for a brief time last night we were even becalmed, but we still averaged about 5.7 knots overnight. We are pointing as high into the wind as we can, but we are forced a little west of our desired course line to avoid luffing the sails. Our efforts to gain more easting will continue today.
- course: 15 degrees True
- speed: 7 to 8 knots
- weather: about half the sky is scattered with small cumulous clouds, some reaching up into tall pillars. They do not contain much moisture. No high clouds.
- wind: North of East, 10 to 15 knots
- sea state: North-East 4 to 5 feet, more established and prominent; East 1 to 2 feet, South 1 to 2 feet, very gentle rollers – easy steering.
- Celestial Observations, Navigation Stars, Planets and Moon Phases: Our heading for the night has been Haka (N by E) , trying for Nā Leo Ko‘olau (NNE). We used Makali’i (Pleiades); the Navigator’s Triangle of Pira‘etea (Deneb), Keoe (Vega) and Humu (Altair); the stars of Ke Kā O Makali’i and the moon to steer by. As the night went on, we continued to use the moon. (See Hawaiian Star Lines.)
