ANNA
PLANS A VISIT TO PATAGONIA.
She will depart the Galapagos for southern Chile, on or about December 11, 2014. Our initial departure plan will take us approximately 3,300 nm (possibly more) on a direct, non-stop route, counter-clockwise around the SE Pacific Ocean High (anticyclone), which is located at roughly 30 degrees south latitude and 95 degrees west longitude, during the months of December and January - this corresponds to late spring/early summer in the southern hemisphere. We anticipate a voyage of at least 35 days, through one of the world's least travelled ocean routes, before Anna arrives at the northern entrance, the gateway, to the remote western channels of Chilean Patagonia.
The intensity and position of the SE Pacific High varies, seasonally, and to a somewhat lesser extent from day to day. And depending upon its exact position and size, as Anna approaches the High from the north and west, we could find ourselves modifying Anna's route to make best use of the actual weather pattern as we close on the High. We might, for example, sail farther west and possibly further south, to get around the west side of the high pressure, where favorable westerlies might be encountered. Or we may alter course to reduce the risk of heavy weather damage as a fast-moving, travelling Low (depression) sweeps from west to east, unobstructed, across the vast fetch of the South Pacific Ocean and Great Southern Ocean.
She will depart the Galapagos for southern Chile, on or about December 11, 2014. Our initial departure plan will take us approximately 3,300 nm (possibly more) on a direct, non-stop route, counter-clockwise around the SE Pacific Ocean High (anticyclone), which is located at roughly 30 degrees south latitude and 95 degrees west longitude, during the months of December and January - this corresponds to late spring/early summer in the southern hemisphere. We anticipate a voyage of at least 35 days, through one of the world's least travelled ocean routes, before Anna arrives at the northern entrance, the gateway, to the remote western channels of Chilean Patagonia.
The intensity and position of the SE Pacific High varies, seasonally, and to a somewhat lesser extent from day to day. And depending upon its exact position and size, as Anna approaches the High from the north and west, we could find ourselves modifying Anna's route to make best use of the actual weather pattern as we close on the High. We might, for example, sail farther west and possibly further south, to get around the west side of the high pressure, where favorable westerlies might be encountered. Or we may alter course to reduce the risk of heavy weather damage as a fast-moving, travelling Low (depression) sweeps from west to east, unobstructed, across the vast fetch of the South Pacific Ocean and Great Southern Ocean.
Once the
favorable westerlies are found, sailing within the boundaries of
moderate pressure isobars is the ticket; although intense, travelling
Lows could generate occasional spikes in the wind and sea state as they
speed on, adjacent to a high pressure system. And when a fast-moving
Low passes close by a quasi-stable High, the pressure isobars compress,
and the weather becomes unstable; that is, the winds generated by this
squeezing effect of the two pressure systems - the High and the Low -
become stronger, more gusty, and the seas grow in response. And this may
last for 6 to 12 hours, or more. And that's when things start to get
interesting. We saw this type of weather on a North Pacific Ocean
crossing as Anna skirted the North Pacific High on her passage from
Kauai to British Columbia, in 2007. We were able to use some of the
intense, travelling Lows (one of which registered 996 millibars on our
barometer) to our advantage on that passage. But that was then, and this
is now, and in reality, every passage is different and somewhat
unpredictable.
While the moderate westerlies should carry us toward the coast of southern Chile, finding them could add a thousand nautical miles and additional days to the passage; total mileage could jump to over 4,000 nm and days under way might extend to about 45, in total. Put simply, we have to stay observant, patient and flexible to find the right balance in an ocean passage of this nature. Ultimately, the weather will drive our decision-making processes, comfort, total mileage and days en route. Our initial routing sketch (shown above), is based on averages of historical data. Realistically, we expect variations to occur, as real-time weather influences Anna's routing - especially as we get closer to latitude 30 to 40 degrees south.
We anticipate parts of this passage to be a challenge and somewhat difficult. It will certainly be long and it will be completely new to us and it will be anything but a Tropical downwind walk in the park. Most assuredly, it will be electrifying, to say the least, as Anna approaches the wilder, higher latitudes, skirting the southern boundary of the SE Pacific Ocean, on her way to Patagonia.
We will post our noon-to-noon position reports every day, via SSB-HAM radio transmissions, whenever possible - these transmissions are limited by radio-wave propagation and the limitations of receiving stations in remote locations, so if you don't see a daily report, then it's possible that propagation was poor that day and we couldn't transmit; or our electronics went FUBAR; or we were busy dealing with one of those pesky Lows, and skipped the report.
You can track us to see our progress, en route. And, while you are checking, if you see that Anna landed at a coral reef, at Fanning Island, in the North Pacific, well, then you'll know that Anna overruled our decision, and took a right turn at the corner of 'no' and 'where'.
Rich and Cat
s/v ANNA
While the moderate westerlies should carry us toward the coast of southern Chile, finding them could add a thousand nautical miles and additional days to the passage; total mileage could jump to over 4,000 nm and days under way might extend to about 45, in total. Put simply, we have to stay observant, patient and flexible to find the right balance in an ocean passage of this nature. Ultimately, the weather will drive our decision-making processes, comfort, total mileage and days en route. Our initial routing sketch (shown above), is based on averages of historical data. Realistically, we expect variations to occur, as real-time weather influences Anna's routing - especially as we get closer to latitude 30 to 40 degrees south.
We anticipate parts of this passage to be a challenge and somewhat difficult. It will certainly be long and it will be completely new to us and it will be anything but a Tropical downwind walk in the park. Most assuredly, it will be electrifying, to say the least, as Anna approaches the wilder, higher latitudes, skirting the southern boundary of the SE Pacific Ocean, on her way to Patagonia.
We will post our noon-to-noon position reports every day, via SSB-HAM radio transmissions, whenever possible - these transmissions are limited by radio-wave propagation and the limitations of receiving stations in remote locations, so if you don't see a daily report, then it's possible that propagation was poor that day and we couldn't transmit; or our electronics went FUBAR; or we were busy dealing with one of those pesky Lows, and skipped the report.
You can track us to see our progress, en route. And, while you are checking, if you see that Anna landed at a coral reef, at Fanning Island, in the North Pacific, well, then you'll know that Anna overruled our decision, and took a right turn at the corner of 'no' and 'where'.
Rich and Cat
s/v ANNA
.
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