Hikianalia Update | Sep 9, 2018: Leg 1 Final Update

During out 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. watch, we headed toward the star house ʻĀina Malanai averaging at 8 knots to cover 29 nautical miles east and 12 nautical miles south. There were naiʻa (dolphins) that greeted our crew at night and they glided through the water and lit up the ocean as well as our mood.

During our 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. watch, we held Noio Malanai averaging 6 knots to cover 20 nautical miles east and 13 nautical miles south. During our watch, we used the star Hikulima (Epsilon Ursae Majoris) to recheck latitude and measured 4 degrees from the horizon. With Hikulima’s declination at 56 degrees, we get 90-56 = 34 degrees and then adding 4 degrees gives us 38 degrees. So for our latest latitude check, we confirmed that we are at 38 degrees. Our 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. watch also saw naiʻa!

During our 2 a.m. – 6 a.m. watch, we held ʻĀina Malanai averaging 6 knots. So we covered another 22 nautical miles east and 9 nautical miles south.

After our 6 a.m. watch, we met with Kapena Lehua and thought we were pretty close to where we wanted to be. Lehua had picked for us to be 75 miles west of the lighthouse of Point Reyes and asked us what the radius we would like zero in on. We asked her if we could have a 30 nautical mile radius to give us a degree (60 nautical miles in diameter). Once all four apprentice navigators agreed that we were in the 30 nautical mile radius of our “destination” (75 miles west of the lighthouse of Point Reyes) Captain Lehua checked our automatic identification system and notified us that we were 28.7 nautical miles away!

We will continue to hold ʻĀina Malanai until sunset and then we will make our way towards land. We are projected to have a vessel come out and guide us in tomorrow morning once we get close enough and make our way towards our point.

This morning, the winds are gusting so we have been traveling quite fast over the last 12 hours. We have reefed the main and taken down the mizzen. Everyone is excited to make our arrival!