As I said, paddling is my passion. Once the virus is under control and travel is unrestricted and the paddling clubs can resume taking out visitors, I'll be happy to pass along information via PM on how to join us for outrigger canoe paddling. I fell in love with it the first time I did it, though I had previous experience kayaking. No hydrogen involved.
You guys did 18 miles in 45 minute shifts. I bet you got a strong respect for the original Hawaiian immigrants who ran more then 2,200 miles on double hull canoes - albeit with sails - but no navigational instruments save bare eyes sightings of sun and stars, and no charts.
We actually did 36 miles over the course of two days, in 45-minute shifts. Stronger paddlers than I make day-long journeys without crew changes, and in much rougher waters. The boats used by the Polynesians for long journeys were very different than what we use. I've seen a modern reproduction. We could not even see the deck from our boat. Our outriggers are very seaworthy, but those boats were in another class altogether. The boat in Moana is small compared to that one. But as you note, their navigational skills were nothing short of amazing. Comparing what I do to them is like comparing a stroll across an English meadow in spring to Tenzing Norgay bringing Edmund Hillary to the top of Everest.
Toyota’s finally throwing in the towel (to some extent), will launch two BEV models in the USA soon: Toyota announces 2 electric cars coming to the US this year - Electrek .