Balsa raft expedition faces long haul south at start of return leg

HANGAROA – Norwegian adventurer Torgeir Higraff is claiming the first circumnavigation of Easter Island by rafts. He is the leader of the expedition, Kon-Tiki 2, which has sailed to Easter Island from South America on two balsa wood rafts – and is now just over a week into a bold, first-ever modern-day attempt to sail back.

He has titled his latest blog on the expedition’s website – ‘First Circumnavigation of Easter Island by Rafts’.

“The title is not a joke, but I wish it was. The first week of our historical effort to sail from Easter Island to South America on rafts has been very difficult in many ways,” Higraff writes.

“We are now further away from our goal than a week ago. To sail in the wrong direction many days in a row is for me like a nightmare.

“This last night shows some hope. Even with winds coming from our destination, we have managed to sail on 200 degrees south, by constantly raising and lowering the guares (daggerboards). My crewmates and those on Rahiti do a tremendous job. I remain hopeful.”

When the rafts departed Easter Island on New Years Day, Higraff wrote: “We are getting ready to launch. For the first time in modern history, ancient style vessels will be sailing from Polynesia to South America.

“The expedition would like to thank everyone on Easter Island for being wonderful people in a wonderful place.”

Five days into the return leg he wrote: “ During our three weeks on the island we had several gales. Now, five days at sea, we have had almost no wind and we have sailed only a few miles out from Easter Island. We can still see the volcanoes in the horizon, but now as small shadows under the big clouds. At this speed it will take us several weeks just to get to the Roaring Forties.”

The rafts must sail 1500km south in order to catch the winds they need to sail 5000km eastwards to land.

New Zealander Lisa Te Heuheu has joined the Rahiti Tane raft crew for the arduous return trip.

“She is a New Zealand Maori with a passion for the environment, Maori knowledge and culture and the development of all people,” Higraff writes.

- PNC