Squash Anyone?

We've been getting bashed around for a couple of days now, largely due to a weather phenomenon known as a "squash zone" (and we, apparently, are the ball). This occurs when the pressure contours (isobars) around a high get pushed closer together on one side by an adjacent low pressure system. Since the winds are driven by the pressure gradients, the intense gradient found in a squash zone can dramatically increase wind strength, which in turn drive wave height. You get the picture.

The low in question (see the south pacific weather maps at metservice.co.nz for details), however, is slipping to the SW, bending the high's isobars. As a rough guide, wind travels parallel to the isobars. So, while the low delivered a squash zone for a few days, it'll make up for it by giving us some northerly winds with which we can make some much needed easting. Of the 5 boats that we know of which left from NZ for French Polynesia, we are the only ones that still have a chance of sailing directly there. The others are now trying for Raratonga in the Cook Islands. Some may not even make that landfall without motoring up wind. We're keeping our fingers crossed that winds will be favourable over the next week.