Kama Hele Evening Report

Aloha kākou,

3.14.09 - Too slow!  Brilliant sunshiny day, scattered cotton-ball puffy clouds, gently rolling and wide-spaced surf – but no wind to power the sails of either vessel.  Extremely light southeast winds, usually about 6-9 knots, limited Hōkūle‘a and Kama Hele’s speed over ground to the 2-3 knot range.  The only plus is that both crews enjoyed a well-deserved rest that should pay off on the rest of the voyage.  I thought it would be a great night for stars due to about 1/8 cloud coverage all day, but at sunset we had 7/8 cloud coverage, so Bruce will have his work cut out for him tonight.

date-time group 141841 HST March 2009;  position 14 degrees 45.88 minutes North 158 degrees 34.94 minutes West

nm since sunrise -  28.4 nm, course 234 degrees True
avg speed 2.4 knots
distance and bearing to Palmyra – 571 nm, 201 degrees True
distance and bearing back to Sand Island – 396 nm, 06 degrees True

Sunset reports from all vessels indicated vessels and crews are fine.  At 6:41 pm, we were on a course of 193 degrees True and making 3.8 knots at thattime.

Winds:  SE 6-9 and fading as sun set
Sea state: N swell 4-6 ft
Clouds – 7/8 low, thin stratocumulus, no high clouds visible

Aloha,

Mike Taylor, Kama Hele escort boat