The Canoe Is the People

• Estimating Position|
• Dead Reckoning|
• Etak System

• Judging Speed|
• Judging Leeway|
• Reading Currents

Reading Currents
Currents GLOSSARY currents - the directional flow of the sea out at sea can push a vaka off course and affect its speed. If a vaka is sailing against the current, its speed is lower, but if it is sailing with the current, its speed is higher. A wayfinder needs to know how to read the currents and adjust the course of the vaka if necessary. A destination island can have different star paths GLOSSARY star paths - the sequence of stars to follow from one island to another for currents of different directions and strengths.

When starting out, a wayfinder watches to see if the vaka moves sideways in relation to points on the land. When already away from land, a wayfinder looks for other clues about currents. For example, he can read the direction and strength of a current by noting how the water moves in relation to the wind direction.

• If the waves stand up more than usual in a peaky sort of appearance when they are moving with the wind, the current is moving against them [See figure 1].
• If white caps fall backwards into the wind, the current is moving against the wind [See figure 2].
• If the waves are smaller and flatter than usual, they are moving with the wind and the current [See figure 3].
• If white caps fall smoothly and their foam moves in a long line with the wind, the current is moving with the wind [See figure 4].
• When the sea is calm, ripples GLOSSARY ripples - small movements on the surface of the water on the water’s surface can show the direction and strength of a current [See figure 5].
• Lines of drifting GLOSSARY drifting - floating with the current wood and other objects can sometimes form where two currents meet [See figure 6].