November 4: another day of peaceful sailing, but praying for more southerly winds
November 3: Sunset Report
We had another very calm, peaceful sail today with easy steering. The wind is still forcing us to sail further west than we would prefer.
We are now off our reference course line by about 80 nautical miles and are looking for any opportunity to pinch more easterly. If the reports are beginning to sound the same, we know how you feel! Help us pray for more southerly winds, please. We want to turn more to starboard! But, morale is high, everyone is well and we are all enjoying this wonderful opportunity for learning and growth.
- course: west of north, heading 350 degrees True, Haka Ho’olua
- speed: 6 knots
- weather: mostly clear overhead with puffy cumulus clouds all around, no showers today, no high clouds, warm, humid
- wind: East 10-15 knots
- sea state: North-East 4 to 5 feet, East 1 to 2 feet, South 1 to 2 feet, very gentle rollers – easy steering.
Hawaiian Star Compass (Click on the link for an explanation of the names of the directional houses of the compass. Click on the compass for a larger image.)
- steering: by sun, wind and swells.
- animal Life: We caught another ono – like his brother, he also tasted ono.
- sea birds and sea life: Only a few terns and boobies at sea. One bird pile was working on our course but no strikes when we sailed through it.
November 4: Sunrise Report
The winds improved during the night so that we could steer a little east of north (haka ko’olau/na leo ko’olau) while maintaining 6 knots.
Our crew enjoyed another gentle night of smooth sailing and easy steering. Between 6 pm and 6 am, we gained 68 nautical miles on a heading of 007 degrees True (haka ko’olau). A little better, but still west of our desired course line. Our efforts to gain more easting will continue today.
- course: east of north, heading 007 degrees True, Haka Ko’olau
- speed: 6 to 7 knots
- weather: about half the sky is scattered with low puffy cumulus clouds with no vertical stratification. 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, 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 Ko’olau. On the 6 to 10 pm watch, we used Makali’i; the Navigator’s Triangle of Pira‘etea (Deneb), Keoe (Vega) and Humu (Altair); the stars of Ke Ka O Makali’i, Ke Alii Kona I ka Lewa (Canopus) and the moon to steer by.
As the night went on, we used Ke Alii Kona I ka Lewa (Canopus) in the south and the stars of Hokulei in the north – keeping them just right of the mainsail early in the night and then just left of it later in the night as they moved west across the sky. We also steered by the moon, which rose in Namahoe (nana mua and nana hope). As always, the rising sun is always our best steering guide and directional reorientation each morning.
Animal Life: We caught an aku this morning – poke tonight!
Aku, caught on Hōkūle‘a
Sea Birds: One iwa accompanies us now and again, eyeing the lures on our fishing lines. There are only a few terns and boobies this far out at sea. One bird pile was working on our course but no strikes when we sailed through it.
