Thursday, July 1, 1999 (8:30 a.m.)
Day at Sea: 17
Actual Position (From GPS unit on board escort boat).
Position (Navigator's Estimate from Pi'ikea Miller, Apprentice Navigator on "Hokule'a."):
June 30, Sunset: 01 degrees 00 minutes N; on reference line
July 01, Sunrise: 00 degrees 07 minutes N; on reference line
Navigators adjusted their latitude estimate to 01 degree N last evening with a good sighting of Hokupa'a, the North Star, which appeared just above the horizon.
This morning the skies are clear and full of cumulus clouds--a beautiful day at sea. The winds were from La Malanai (E by S) at 15 knots and the canoe was heading Na Leo Malanai (SSE) at 5 knots. The seas were mellow and the swells were sorting themselves out after the confused patterns of the doldrums: the dominant swell from the SE, and a smaller easterly swell. The crew was in good spirits.
Last night the skies were clear, with all the stars available of navigation. Anticpating they would crossing the equator soon, the crew held their equator crossing party--an 'awa ceremony, skit, and a special dinner, with Spanish rice and crepes with banana with chocolate syrup.
Strategy: Hokule'a continues on the third and final segment of the voyage to Nukuhiva in the Southeast Tradewind Belt trying to gain some easting back by heading Na Leo Malanai (SSE), to the east of its Haka Malanai reference course.
Navigation
Daytime navigation: sunrise and sunset (ENE/WNW); swell from the SE.
Nightime navigation: starry night.
Latitude: Hokupa'a.
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
Notes on Crew Life (from 6/29/99 talk with Kamehameha Schools students in Shantell Ching's summer school voyaging class): main work on watch--steering, trimming the sails, tacking, cooking meals, keeping the canoe clean... canoe performance--good speed and windward ability.... main repairs--making the crew sleeping quarters (canvas coverings over the hulls) more water tight, as the crew has been getting drenched by waves breaking over the canoe ....Hawaiian word for the day--laulima, or working together ... main pastimes--making music (Dennis Chun, Ka'au McKenney, Desmon Antone, and Kekama Helm brought their guitars along) and telling jokes; a skit was being prepared to celebrate crossing the equator...crew is eating well, two meals a day rather than three. ... no non-biodegradable trash goes overboard, everything is compacted and bagged for disposal on land.. ..the crew is using rainwater to rinse their salty clothing...no fish, perhaps because the canoe has been traveling slowly at times; the crew has been trolling at night, but has been losing lures to something biting them off......Apprentice navigator Pi'ikea Miller is sleeping only 3-4 hours a day...yes, using the bathroom can be difficult in rought weather... tons of sealife spotted: pilot whales, sperm whales, dophins, a jelly fish-type creature in the doldrums...terns, petrels, shearwaters.
Fishing report: No strikes.
Sea Life: An 'Iwa (Frigate Bird) came hovering over the canoe just before sunset. One large lone whale--dark with a small fin on its back--perhaps a fin whale. Other birds: shearwaters, 'ake'ake (petrels), and terns.
