Day 5 – Tāua e Moana Voyage update

Popongi,

It’s an early start for the crew today as we prepare for our departure to the north. The Aitutaki hospitality always makes our stay here an enjoyable one. We’ve been spoiled for food here with fresh fish and tupa. Thank you to Laughton and family for hosting us and stocking our Vaka with fresh fruit. Kuraono and Mike Henry at Tamanu Beach for sending your beautiful salads to the Vaka last night. Annie fisher for your lollies, they’re certainly going to spike our spirits on those 3am watches.

Meitaki Atupaka to the people of Aitutaki for sharing your island and generosity with us.

After our departure ceremony the canoe departed for the Island of Penrhyn

Heading 009 degree north (Are Haka] speed 4.5, Swell S/SE 0.5M, Wind SE 6-8KTS Clear skys

The crews are enjoying the fresh fruits that our people from Aitutaki have donated, especially the fresh mangoes that my two brothers Ron and Lawton have purposely save for us from their own trees.

Meitaki Maata.

Cap Peia Patai And Crew Terii Pitman

Update from Kelvin Passfield, Te Ipukarea Society

“We are now approximate 15miles north of Aitutaki, heading on haka, the traditional navigation bearing equivalent to 9 degrees true in modern navigational terms. We are averaging around 4 knots in very light breeze. We have just had a great lunch and Alanna, Terii and Sandy have decided since it is so calm, they need to bake an upside-down pineapple cake!

We deployed the plastic trawl donated by 5 Gyres to the Cook Island Voyaging Society for 30 minutes, but only caught some rice and chives that someone had for lunch! We did think we had some small blue microplastics, but on closer inspection they were tiny blue zooplankton, possibly some kind of jellyfish. Next time we will deploy the plastic trawl between meals, and not when people are washing their plates! Or using the toilet!