The UN SEAHORSE expedition continues!

This map shows the cruise of the UN SEAHORSE (to the ship's log)

WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE VOYAGE
AND LOCAL CLIMATE DEVELOPMENTS

If you want to check the weather conditions during the voyage, you can take a look at a full satellite image of the Pacific (330 kB - loads slowly!) from the US Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (METOC).
You can also view a slide presentation of the climatological developments in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions with comments (25 images). Once you went through this presentation, you will have an impression of the interaction between climate and oceans and land masses.

Day 1
Position: N 24:00, E 147:22
Today we have left Yokohama. We are sailing via the Northern Marianas to Ponape in the Fed. States of Micronesia. In about six or seven days the UN Seahorse will arrive in Ponape.

Day 2 Position: N 24:00, E 147:22 Yokohama is way behind us. The atmosphere on the ship is very good. The crew is motivated. Probable we are all thrilled to finally sail on. Day 3: Position: N 19:19, E 150:88 We are sailing in the area of the Northern marianas. East off the Marianas is the famous Mariana Trench. This trench has a deepest recorded point of 11,035 meters. It is called the Challenger Deep. Many times, people have marked a 'largest seadepth' in the Mariana Trench. The Challenger Expedition (The Challenger was a British navy vessel on a 3-year ocean research expedition; 1872-75) found a depth of 8,183 meter in 1875. After them, the Nero-depth followed, which was recorded at 9,640 meter. The Challenger II recorded 10,870 meters and 10,899 meters in 1951. Finally in 1959, the Russian vessel Vitjaz marked a depth of 11,035 meters. With 11,524 meters, the record seadepth is located in the Philippine trench. It was discovered in 1972. No person has ever reached the deepest point on the ocean bed, or rather the deepest pont n earth yet.

The UN Seahorse is heading into the sea. In some coastal waters the waves are kind of short. It can beome quite rough when it is windy . Who is not used to it, may become a little seasick. The commander will tell you his story on seasickness and how to deal with it.

Day 4:
Position: N 14:31, E 153:90
In the whole wide neihgbourhood, there is no sign of any land at all. We're all alone. Off and on, a bird passes the blue sky and that's all. No other sign of life than life on the Seahorse. Our course is still 148 S-E.

Day 5:
Position: N 9:09, E 153:50
Paul, our diving officer has sailed in this geographical area before. He told us at the breakfast table, that there is a good change that we may see some dolphins. It didn't take an hour after he told us, that we got the company of a large shoal of dolphins. They swam all around the ship making big jumps out of the water. It is quite exceptional to see dolphins in the open ocean. They prefer to live in coastal areas. Dolphins can swim so quick, that you have a hard time following them with your eyes. They stayed around the ship for almost an hour and then they disappeared. I lost lost my sunglasses in the ocean while leaning over the port-side railing to watch the dolphins,

Day 6: Position: N 7:11, E 158:31 Early in the morning, we arrived at the island Ponape. Ponape is part of the Caroline Archipelago. The Caroline Islands belong to the Federated States of Micronesia. current weather on Ponape

Day 7: We are anchoring at the island Ponape. One of the locals of the island came aboard to sell us fresh fruit. He told us about some legends of the island. We decided to launch one of the two survey boats to go to Nan Madol, a small island southwest of Ponape. There are some mysterious ruins. Let's check these ruins of Nan Madol out. What a spectatecular site on this atol.

Our hydrographic survey boat on its way from the SEAHORSE to the island

Day 8:
Position: N 2:10, E 163:00
We are still sailing in the waters of Micronesia. We took a new course; it is 136 S-E. We have almost reached the Equator. You can tell by looking at the course. You'll see that tomorrow when we pass the Equator (0 degrees) the Northern course will all of a sudden change into a Southern course. We have to lower our speed because of the weather circumstances. A few crew members have become seasick. The captain did not. He is giving advice on how to deal with seasickness.

Day 9:
Position: S 2:20, E 166:70
Today we're crossing the Equator. It happens in the waters of Nauru. Nauru is an island with the largest concentration of phosphate of the world. We are moving rather. We will not stop here because there is no natural harbor. However, we would like to see the 'mooncsape' of Nauru which is caused by the phosphate mining.
It looks like we're going to experience another day of bad weather. We are measuring wind speeds of 30 to 35 knots per hour, and waves as high as high as 5 to 7 meters. According to the satellite images, the weather will probably improve again tomorrow. Fortunately, our cook is not seasick. He's preparing delicious meals even under the worst circumstances (at least for those who still feel like eating).

Day 10:
Position: S 5:82, E 170:68.
We are almost in Polynesia. Tonight we will enter the waters of Polynesia in the area of Tuvalu.

Tuvalu is one of the smallest and most isolated independent nations in the world. Tuvalu means "cluster of eight" although there are actually nine islands in total. They are shown on the flag of Tuvalu as stars. The clusters of islands consists all together of 129 islets. Tuvalu has a total land area of 25 square kilometer. The chain of these islands is 579 kilometers long. People of Tuvalu are afraid that their islands will 'drown' in the ocean within a century due to the rising sea levels caused by global warming.

Flag of Tuvalu

The weather has improved quite a bit. It is still a little rough, but much better than yesterday. At least, seasicknes seems to be part of the past again.

Day 11:
Position: S 10:1, E 175:4.
We are in Polynesia. Take a look at this Map of Polynesia. You may want to read about how Polynesian migrated all the way from Tahiti to Hawaii. It is amazing how these seafarers crossed such a great distance over the largest ocean on our planet without any navigational instruments.
The Polynesian triangle between Hawaii, New Zealand and Easter Island stretches 8,000 km across the central Pacific Ocean. (A fifth of earth's suurface!). Polynesia consists of boundless ocean and little land. Polynesia is divided into two areas: Western Polynesia (Tonga and Samoa) and Eastern Polynesia (Hawaii, French Polynesia, Cook Islands and New Zealand). Together they enclose Pitcairn Islands, Easter Islands, Atiu, Niue, Tokelau, Wallis & Futuna and Tuvalu. We have already passed Tuvalu. During our voyage, we will sail through Tonga, Cook Islands and French Polynesia (Also called Tahiti-Polynesia).

The weather is great. We are able to sail 14 knots again. We left the waters of Tuvalu behind us. Soon we will reach Rotuma, with a course of 136 S-E. Although the people of Rotuman are Polynsians, we left Polynesia, since Rotuma is part of Fiji, Melanesia. Melanesia is named after the dark complexion of its inhabitants. In the Greek language melos = black and nesos = islands. Melanesia has a tremendous variety of cultures, people, and languages. Melanesia consists of the Fiji Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. The only part of Melanesia that we will visit is Fiji.

Map of Melanesia Total view of the South Pacific

Day 12:
Position: S 12:2, E 177:54.
Today we arrive at Rotuma We have a long day ahead, so we have plenty time to look around. Within a wide of 322 km there is nothing else but open sea around Rotuma. If you look at the map above, can you see where the route suddenly goes vertically_ There, at that corner lies Rotuma!
However, the most important island of Fiji, Viti Levu, lies 500 km ahead. We will be going there too.
Fiji is on the crossroads of the Pacific. A gathering of cultures and races: Polynesian, Melanesian, Micronesian, European, Chinese and Indian; everything comes together in Fiji. Each with its own traditions like cuisine, dances, religion, etc.
The territory of Fiji covers 1,290,000 square kilometer of the Pacific. When counting every islet belonging to Fiji it would add up to more than thousand. Only 322 of them are inhabitated, but only 106 are habitaded. The rest are either are too much isolated or there is a lack of fresh drinking water. Most of Fiji's isles are volcanic.
In the days of sailing ships, Fiji was known as the "Cannibal Isles". Mariners carefully avoided the islands because of the reputation of proud, fierce warriors and treacherous waters. However, nowadays Fiji is the central hub of the South Pacific.

Rotuma

Day 13: Isolated Rotuma is a volcanic island Rotuma's heighest crater is 280 meter above sea-level. The island is sometimes called: "Fiji's Hidden Paradise". We seem to have good charts. In Fiji there goes a saying: "If you can find Rotuma on a chart, it is a fairly good chart". Maybe, that is why they call it the "Hidden" Paradise. As for the word Paradise, it must have been used because of the green luxuries and the beautiful beaches.

The beach of Yasawa.

Day 14: Position: S 17:61, E 177:5. In the early morning, the UN SEAHORSE leaves Rotuma with destination Suva, the capital of Fiji. Our course is 77 N-E. Suva lies on the volcanic island Viti Levu. Between the isles of Yasawa and Mamanutha we drop the anchor. We are not making it to Suva today. Around these islands we see a lot of frigates and terns. The fregats 'tease' the terns so long until they drop the fish they caught. When the fish almost touches the surface of the water the fregat catches his stolen fish. It may seem mean to rob, but it is their nature. Frigat, male (left) and female (right). Tern.