August 9: Training Sails before September Drydock

With Hōkūle‘a back home at the Marine Education and Training Center (METC) on Sand Island, crew members began training in Māmala Bay, off Honolulu, this week. They practiced handling the crab-claw sail rig safely.

Crab claw rig. (Click on any image to make it larger and activate the slide show.)

Training sails on Aug. 7 and 8 were captained by Pwo Navigator Bruce Blankenfeld, assisted by watch captain Kaina Holomalia.

Bruce (middle) and Kaina (right) talking with the crew.

The crew on the escort catamaran Noa Noa tested its performance and its capacity to tow Hōkūle‘a. Noa Noa will serve as a training vessel when Hōkūle‘a goes into drydock in early September.

Escort Catamaran Noa Noa

This weekend (August 10-12), PVS leadership plans to sail around the east side of O’ahu to continue to test Hōkūle’a’s overall performance while training apprentice navigators in non-instrument wayfinding for deep sea voyages. Crew members will also perform daily safety drills while testing new devices for emergencies at sea.

August 7 Training Sail:

August 8  Training Sail: