Nikunau is shown in 01deg23´-S latitude in (p.e. Norie´s) tables of the era. The most probable route to Howland was : Lae-Gagan 533 mls ,Gagan-Nukumanu 341 , Nukumanu-Initial Point 165deg21´-E/01deg23´-S 458 , In.Pt.- Nikunau via Tabiteuea-Beru 766 , Nikunau - sunrise fix 348 (Nikunau-Howland = 498 mls loxo) , fix to In.Pt one line appr. 50 , In.Pt. to TOP (Turn off Pt) 102 , thence to Howland ass.posn. 30 miles. Total 2,628 miles planned. Initially , sunrise o.b. would have occurred earlier , but due to delay (weather off forecast) on the 1st leg to Nukumanu , 44 minutes , sunrise was seen later , i.e. at 175453 GMT , being the only reference occurrence after twilight. On the leg In.Pt. to Nikunau , every 20 minutes a navigation star came in A/c´s meridian so that one-star observation only was needed to stabilize piloting in the latitude by this composite sailing fashion.