Updated at 12:36 p.m., Friday, February 2, 2007
Voyaging canoes benefit from return of trade winds
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Staff Writer
Mike Taylor, captain of the escort boat Kama Hele, said that the winds had turned to the northeast and were blowing strong, at near 25 mph. The canoes were about 280 miles east of Johnston Atoll at 4:40 a.m., according to automated position beacons.
"Now we're cooking," Taylor was quoted as saying in a Polynesian Voyaging Society news release.
The canoes have been plagued by the same weather system that has caused damaging winds and rains over the main Hawaiian Islands in recent days, although they are far enough south to have been spared the worst of the gusty winds.
The canoes are headed for Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands on the first leg of their voyage into Micronesia, but hope to sight Johnston — about a third of the way from the Big Island to Majuro — to confirm their location.
Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.
