While Sharp allowed for the possibility that the voyagers were able to guide themselves on short trips, he claimed that there was no way that the Polynesians could have had any firm idea where they were headed for a journey beyond 300 miles [500 km].
Meskipun Sharp mengakui kemungkinan bahwa para pelaut ini sanggup memandu diri mereka pada perjalanan jarak pendek, ia menyatakan bahwa mustahil orang Polinesia tahu pasti ke mana mereka pergi untuk perjalanan sejauh lebih dari 500 kilometer.