Thursday, June 24, 1999 (8:30 a.m.)
Actual Position (From GPS unit on board escort boat).
Tuesday, June 22, Sunset: 11 degrees 11 minutes N, 145 degrees, 52 minutes W
Wednesday, June 23, Sunrise: 10 degrees 43.10 minutes N, 145 degrees, 12.56 minutes W; Sunset: 10 degrees 04.12 minutes N, 144 degrees, 49.26 minutes W
Thursday, June 24, Sunrise: 09 degrees 32.50 minutes N, 144 degrees, 38.68 minutes W
Radio Report from Pi'ikea Miller, Apprentice Navigator on "Hokule'a."
No. of Days at Sea: 9
Doldrum conditions: winds have dropped off to 5 knots, variable from ENE to ESE, mainly easterly. Canoe speed is down to 3 knots.
Believing that the canoe has passed 9 degrees N, the navigators changed to a more southerly heading last night, holding Nalani Malanai (SE by E). (see course strategy explanation.) The canoe heading this morning is now even more southerly, Haka Malanai, or S by E, with winds out of La Malanai (E by S). Skies are clear but occassional passing squalls; squall lines can be seen in the distance.
More whales sighted, possibly sperm whales or large pilot whales. A school of aku is following underneath the canoe, but no fish are biting at the lures.
Position (Navigator's Estimate):
June 23, Sunset: 8 degrees 06' N; 41 mi. E of reference line
June 24, Sunrise--7 degrees 31' N; 41 mi. E of reference line
Heading (with current set) and Strategy: haka malanai (S by E); sail as close to the wind as possible to stay east of the course line nalani malanai (SE by S).
Speed: 3 knots
Navigation
Daytime navigation: ENE trade wind swell continues to dominate but diminish; sunrise and sunset (ENE/WNW); 10 day old moon rising in the afternoon.
Nightime navigation: overcast, steering by the "cut" of the moon. (the line between dark and light, oriented north to south. southern stars visible in late night sky: Grus, Fomalhaut, Achernar
Latitude: dead reckoning (estimate of distance traveled south from last sighting of latitude stars.)
How Non-Instrument Navigation is Done Sun's Position on the Ecliptic Moon Phases (June 1999-January 2000) Rising Points of 21 Brightest Stars Latitude Stars
Fishing report: No strikes.
Sea Life: whales, aku.
