The Equatorial Current Beckons
An Update from Tom Robinson’s shore team
Image: Gonzalo Ravago
As you know, with an accompanying farewell flotilla, Tom left La Punta at 11.30am Peru time on Saturday 2nd July. Some of you may have seen Facebook photos and videos of the event. Subscribers to Off Center Harbor would have seen the very professional and moving video filmed by Donald Wilson - a sweet memory indeed. Last Sunday was the three-week anniversary of his departure.
In those three weeks Tom in MAIWAR travelled over 600 nautical miles (1,100 km) in a north westerly direction aided by south east winds and the north flowing Humboldt current. He is now about 400 nautical miles south of the equator (roughly 400 nautical miles south south east of the Galapagos) where he should soon benefit from the westerly flowing Equatorial Current that will help him make landfall, most probably in the Marquesas, before the end of the year. His average speed so far has been 1.17 knots, which is a respectable pace for this part of his journey.
Tom has now moved to six-hour intervals between tracking reports. Those following his tracker will see that the visual effect of this longer interval is for his course to be smoothed out between each report. Unlike the hourly reports, we can no longer see changes of direction and speed occurring when he stops rowing to sleep, eat and navigate.
Our communication with Tom has been minimal – just an irregular exchange of texts to say that all is well at sea and ashore. We know that he hopes to be sending an email to subscribers soon, but at this stage that has not been possible. Nonetheless, he has been able to send us a text from his current position:
“All is well on the mighty Pacific. My first few weeks were cold and wet and rough. I’m now into my fourth week and conditions are calm and peaceful.”
“MAIWAR is proving to be a fine and able little sea boat. I am very content out here at sea, life is rich and full on the big blue; I have also been pulling up some huge squid [perhaps Humboldt squid], they taste okay. The rowing is long and tiresome but fulfilling and rewarding - my body is holding up well.”
“It is still very cloudy, and I’m still yet to see a sunset. All day I watch the flying fish soar and the dorados [mahi mahi] leap in pursuit, both of which go well for dinner.”
A reminder that Tom’s tracker can be found at: https://www.tomrobinsonboats.com/tracker
We offer our heartfelt thanks to those who’ve helped Tom in one way or another to get under way on this journey. A special thanks goes to the people of Lima – especially the citizens and yacht club members of La Punta. Finally, thank you to those who’ve enquired about Tom’s progress, we look forward to updating you all again soon.
Yours sincerely,
Tom’s Shore Team
For background on this adventure visit
https://southernwoodenboatsailing.com/news/design-build-and-row-how-to-cross-the-pacific
https://southernwoodenboatsailing.com/news/maiwar-amp-tom-arrive-in-peru