Report for Friday, Oct. 1

At 9 p.m. HST last night, Hokule'a was moving 0-1 knots in an easterly direction (107 true).

At 1:30 a.m. HST this morning, Hokule'a was moving about 2 knots in an easterly direction (98 true).

At 9:00 a.m. HST this morning, Hokule'a was sailing about 2 knots toward 'Aina Malanai (ESE). Winds were from the NW at 8 knots; seas were calm; the sky was clear. A ridge of high pressure has settled over the area the canoe is in (25 degrees 04 S, 382 miles W by N from Rapa Nui as of 1:21 a.m. yesterday morning)...at the center of this area of high pressure is little to no wind and generally clear skies. The canoe has moved about 36 miles closer to Rapa Nui between yesterday morning and 1:21 a.m. this morning. North of the ridge axis, which is situated east-west, are light easterly winds; south of the ridge axis are light westerly winds. The canoe is working its way ESE in order to find these westerlies while heading for Rapa Nui.

This pattern of light, variable winds is typical of the area the canoe is in: the area is called the Southern Subtropical Divergence Zone (cold air descending diverges outward); it is noted for light winds and balmy weather. It is equivalent to the "horse latitudes" in the northern hemisphere, where similar conditions prevail. (Question for students following the voyage: where are the horse latitudes in the northern hemisphere? why was the area at these latitudes given this name?)

The next major weather feature that may affect the canoe is a cold front associated with an area of low pressure moving eastward to the south of the canoe (around 40 degrees S)...at the leading edge of this front are the kinds of northerly winds that the canoe rode for a week out to within 400 miles of Rapa Nui; behind the front are southerly winds....however, this front may move to the south and never reach the area the canoe is in...in which case the winds will remain light and variable.

For back reports on the leg to Rapa Nui, go to Rapa Nui Back Reports

For more information on the leg to Rapa Nui, go to The Mangareva-to-Rapa Nui Page

For more information on the quest for Rapa Nui, go to the PVS Homepage