BOBGRAM7 issued 29 June 2008

WEATHERGRAM
YOTREPS
Issued 29 June 2008 NZST
Bob McDavitt's ideas for South Pacific sailing weather.
(Disclaimer: Weather is a mix of pattern and chaos, these ideas come
from the patterned world of weather maps, so please fine-tune to your
place).

Galapagos to Marquesas: just as last week, head direct for 4S 96E then
go straight. This will avoid the strong east-going current and use the
winds best: winds are SE over Galapagos and turn easterly to west of
110E.

TROPICS
The South Pacific Convergence Zone is going thru a quiet time now. It
is still active around northern Coral Sea and has a few flashes of
activity across northern Vanuatu and west of Fiji. There is a weak
branch from Samoa to French Polynesia. A brief burst of heavy rain is
likely Sunday/Monday about and southeast of Kermadecs from a passing
front.

SUBTROPICAL RIDGE
A large HIGH is being calved eastwards from Australia but is likely to
shrink as it crosses the Tasman Sea on Monday and Tuesday however it may
expand again east of the dateline on Thu and south of French Polynesia
on Friday Saturday. This High will enhance the trade winds north of it
as it migrates eastwards. Next HIGH is likely to leave Australia on
Sunday 6 July, and should take a path slightly further south.

Mid Latitudes
Last week brought one northerly front, one thundry then one windy
westerly front, and finally a southerly (with a low). That southerly
will peel off to the east on Monday, and that's when a brief ridge will
bring some frosty sunshine to the South Island. Tuesday's the North
Island's turn for a light-wind/sunny break.

The next broad trough is set to move across Tasman Sea/NZ on Wednesday
to Saturday, with its main front on Thursday, and cold southerlies over
South Island on Friday/North Island on Saturday. Avoid this front.

The terms used here are more fully explained in the METSERVICE Yacht
Pack. Feedback to bob.mcdavitt@metservice.com