Faafaite

Aloha 6th graders!

Our wind has calmed sufficiently to make sailing pleasant, and is coming from a warmer direction.  This morning's watch was more like the morning wash, as Fati and I both washed our hair.  SO nice to feel a little cleaner.  Still too cold to take a shower, but I bathed in my hatch last night with a bottle of water and soap and a towel. We're currently at 34 degrees 01 minute S, 170 degrees 39 minutes W.

Before we left new Zealand, I bought a small set of iPod speakers, which have been the hit of the voyage.  It's really nice to have music, and we're slowly changing song lyrics to fit our journey. "Stayin' Alive" has become "Stayin' in Line", "Stir It Up" is "Steer it Up" and so forth.  Usually we listen to Bob Marley in the mornings, although we got a little disco this morning and had a little dance party on the deck.  Jean-Baptiste, or J-B, has decided our watch is more fun, and he stays up to play with us.  His animal nickname is the sloth, although he's anything but.  He's a very considerate guy and a hard worker.  PLUS, he loves to cook and clean and he does both well.  We decided we would keep him with us if we could. He got included in our group hug this morning, which I think he really enjoyed.

This voyage's theme is "Va'a Nati", or "Canoes Tied Together". There's a similar Hawaiian word, naki'i, which means to tie a knot.  Anyway, yesterday, we found ourselves about 30 miles ahead of Hikianalia, meaning that we were out of radio range. When we finally downloaded email in the evening, we discovered that they had made a course change and a speed change.  Because this is the first major trip for her, the crew is discovering how things work, and sometimes if they work.  As a result, they are being more cautious about their speed, especially in high winds and seas, whereas we know what Faafaite can handle (a lot) and are more confident to hold higher speeds.  We had to come to a decision last night: each canoe go on their own way and arrive in Tahiti in their own time, or stay together and sail as an 'ohana.  Although, we'd really like to go fast, the only choice, really, is to stick together, and fulfill the theme for the voyage.  Titaua, the captain says, however, that the "rope" is too tight around his neck and he needs a little slack.  Oh to go fast!!! When the va'as fly along the water, it's like being one of the birds that is following us.  Oh well.  And then he suggested that the rope ought to be a bungee instead.  He's forgetting that bungees snap back.  When Hikianalia arrives home minus a few thousand pounds of food and water, I'm looking forward to getting on board to see what she really can do.  As fast as we are, she has the capability to be faster.  Sweet!

We have not yet caught fish, as we're finishing the meat we have in our coolers.  We do have a freezer full of meat, but most of us are really hungry for fresh fish.  Hiki caught a large tuna last night. Maybe that's what slowed them down. Nah.

I hope you are all studying hard for the World Religions test and are practicing karma...Mrs. Reid can start instituting karma points: anti-detention points for goods deeds.
Ms. Fuller