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June 27, 1999
Hawaii to Tarawa Voyage, Update #55
Day 55. Sunday 27 June 1999 0330 GMT
Wind E 4knots. Heading 180M.
Latitude: 02deg 56.168N
Longitude: 179deg 03.188W
In yesterday's update I called the voyage's concluding chapter too soon. My 'light heart' dampened somewhat this morning when I switched on the GPS at dawn to find we'd not only been pushed 4 miles north overnight, but to my amazement (a good 10 knot easterly wind has been blowing steadily for 24hrs now), 2.5 miles east also. If my thinking is correct, this means we are still under the influence of the southern fringe of the ITCZ where - as I wrote almost 2 weeks ago - we can most likely expect to be "boxed in" by water moving north to join the counter-current and the remains of the counter-current itself moving east. It is my worst case scenario current-wise come real.
There is nothing for it but to forget any heading west and plough due south again until we are finally rid of these wretched adverse currents. It is grueling stuff: hard on the knees and the head. It took me the best part of this morning to make up the miles lost last night. However many we make during the remainder of today will be 'taxed' tonight no doubt, leaving us with a meager net 24hr total by tomorrow morning. My only fear is that this northerly current may be not just be local to the ITCZ, but is a permanent aspect of the southern equatorial current that will have to be fought all the way across to Tarawa.
So many things have risen to challenge us on this voyage - most of the equipment has broken or failed, and the ocean has been so miserly with giving out 'free air miles' (the wind has been very rarely in our favour) - that disappointment has lost its edge. All I know is numb indifference and that we'll be out here for a little longer.
Jason Lewis,
The Moksha motor
Posted on June 27, 1999 2:19 AM