i was just wondering why you went back to yap on your first try to okinawa instead of going the first try.

According to Jan Tenbruggencate, Nainoa's concern was to make the sail from Micronesia to Okinawa, a two-week open-ocean voyage during the typhoon season, as quickly and safely as possible.

Yap is closer to Okinawa and farther east than Palau, providing a better point of sail.
Thus, his conclusion was that they could minimize their time in the danger zone by sailing from Yap rather than Palau.

(see http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com/index.php?blog=20 )