Southern Waters:
As the sun slowly rises out of the eastern horizon, Sunny Walker steward of cultural protocol aboard sailing canoe Fa'afaite, welcomes us into the calm waters of the equatorial belt. Offerings of chants, songs, tapa, and ti leaf lei's are ceremoniously given as we bid farewell to the Hawaiian gods of the north and are welcomed by the Tahitian gods of the south into Te Moana Nui o Kiva as we cross over Te Pito o Watea, the equator. The sounding of the conch shell ends the ceremony as the crew clad in their traditional brown pareu exchange hugs and kisses in this growing circle of friendship. After suffering through 24 hours of 25 knot winds in which the canoe hung onto to a southward course by the narrowest of margins, the canoe now sails on a heading of south-southeast in the star compass direction of Naleo Malanai. In this more leisurely paced day, the crew passes the time airing out their laundry, playing gentile music, and laying about the deck in the warm southern sun.
Titaua is an energetic youth from Raiavae in the southern Austral islands. He is full of exuberance and loves to tell stories in an animated way, although I do not understand a single word he is saying, I follow along as best I can and join in the party. The crew is highly engaged in the navigation and keen to learn, I explain to them how in the equatorial waters they can use the stars longer for holding direction as they are fairly vertical in their rising and setting patterns.
Last night we were framed at sunset by the golden disc of the sun sinking slowly into the western horizon as the silvery moon climbed into the eastern sky as Fa'afaite glided into southern waters. We have crossed into the south half of the trip and expect a landfall within the next 7 days. With this fresh new wind the spirit of the crew grows stronger as we approach our southern Tahitian homeland, Eo Fa'afaite i te Ao Maohi!!!
Kalepa
