Communications from
the October voyage to Atiu, Mitiaro and Aitutaki
Received from Nick Henry on Wednesday
22.10.2008, after departing Mitiaro for Aitutaki.
 We
left Rarotonga at 5:50pm on Saturday with
gentle 5-6 knot NNE winds, destination Atiu.
We were using the motor as the speed of the
boat was very slow due to the lack of wind.
We sailed through the day Sunday, with a
East manu, we are using a traditional
compass and stars to navigate - no GPS on
board. At midnight Sunday, the engine's
gearbox failed. With no wind and sitting 18
nautical miles SW of Atiu, the crew waited
for day break.
We sighted the Bounty Bay at 0700 hrs 20th,
still no winds and no engine! An ENE 6-7
knot wind arrived and we set sail and headed
on a NW manu, (310 degrees on compass). We
headed just NE of Atiu and so tacked down
again and sighted Atiu.
We picked up the National Geographic film
crew, did some maneuvers and put the vaka
through its paces, some crew members
participated in a ceremony on Atiu.
We set sail for Mitiaro and had Zoe the NG
presenter learning all about sailing our
vaka. She had posts at the top of he masts
and was taught some traditional steering and
navigation. The NG crew left the vaka at
Mitiaro.
The crew had a great lunch at Aunty Nane's
and a swim in the freshwater caves before
departing for Aitutaki with 9 crew on board
and again light winds of 3 knots from SE. We
are hoping there will be more wind out to
sea. With wind and swell pushing us in the
right direction, we may make it to Aitutaki
by Friday bearing NW manu.
This sailing has been more "pure" without
the backup of an engine and GPS. The crew
are enjoying the challenge.
Sailing with traditional methods, the vaka
becomes the compass. During the day, as sun
rises, we use the sun as an indicator. The
sun is rising 10 degrees SE, at night our
guiding stars are Orion, Matariki and
Taurus.
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