A REMARKABLE VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLDTHE ISLANDERS’ FORECAST ON CONDITIONS in the sea and air proved accurate as the armada set forth in favorable winds over a tranquil Pacific. The strength of the wind was moderate enough to allow the ships to deploy all their sails and the crews relaxed as they were carried eastward. Below them, the islanders knew, the currents were running westward. In these conditions, the canoes with their small triangular sails were faster than the galleons with all their canvas because the draft of the Dutch ships was about eight feet, while the canoes drew no more than two feet and so had much less resistance to the current. There was much laughter and shouting from canoe to canoe and canoe to ship as they cruised past the galleons and then furled sails until the ga
