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![Previous (earlier) Story](/images/sty-down.gif "FCC Tackles HF "Splatter" Cases"){kind=small} Previous: FCC Tackles HF "Splatter" Cases |  Next: John Allaway, G3FKM, SK |
The raft La Manteña under way in the Pacific. [All photos courtesy of Cameron Smith] |
PORT JIMENEZ, COSTA RICA, Mar 8, 1999--Sea worms and storms have gotten the best of La Manteña, a 50-foot balsa log raft skippered by John Haslett, KC5KHA, of Dallas, Texas, as part of an educational and research venture. The vessel, first launched last October, has been attempting to retrace the trading routes of ancient Ecuadorian mariners by sailing from Ecuador up the Central American coast to Mexico. Ultimately, the expedition plans to attempt to cross the Pacific to Hawaii. But the voyage has run into problems and has had to be scuttled in the Pacific some 160 miles southwest of Costa Rica.
The Manteña's balsa hull has twice been infested by a type of destructive sea worm. The earlier infestation necessitated a repair and rebuilding stop last fall and winter, and Haslett, 34, thought he had the problem licked. But the steps taken then to prevent a recurrence--including liberal applications of tar--apparently were not successful. Decay also has affected some of the manila rope that bind the logs together. "Consequently, the raft has lost most of its ability to act like a sailing vessel," said Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, who's been in regular contact with the raft. To add insult to injury, the raft had been trapped in the gyre--a large ocean whirlpool--and literally was going in circles under its influence.
The raft under construction in Salango, Ecuador. The building process took 28 days under the supervision of Maestro Enrique, a local master shipwright whose great-grandfather was among the last of the Manteño people to sail balsa rafts on the West Coast of Ecuador. |
Damage from el teredo, the shipworm, aboard La Manteña. |
After bad weather further impaired the vessel's ability to navigate, Haslett's wife, Annie, reported that the crew had accepted an offer from the Costa Rica Coast Guard to rescue the crew and vital supplies and equipment as well as vital raft components. The raft's sails, hardwood masts and cross members and some of its center beams have been towed to Costa Rica. The rest of the vessel was abandoned. Annie Haslett says the team's plans call for rebuilding the raft and continuing the long voyage.
Skipper John Haslett, KC5KHA |
"John said the tow could not have gone better," she said. "The government and the Navy are already helping the crew secure a place to re-fit the raft as well as helping them to locate balsa logs." The raft had a crew of four, including Haslett.
Aboard the Manteña, Haslett had been maintaining Amateur Radio schedules with schools and other groups in the US and around the world on 20 meter SSB. Jim Wilmerding, W2EMT, in Maine has been coordinating the school contact schedule. The expedition also has been using Amateur Radio for routine communication with the mainland. In 1993, Haslett built a 20-ton balsa raft Illa Tiki in Ecuador, then traveled some 750 nautical miles aboard it (see "The Illa Tiki Expedition" QST, Feb 1996, page 28). It, too, was plagued by shipworms.
Annie Haslett said the expedition team expects to take a month to rebuild "and they will embark on the adventure again." Undetermined just yet is whether the crew will try to sail for Acapulco--some 400 miles away--or try to go straight for Hawaii.
"It is fully John's intent to establish a base site in Costa Rica where facilities and supplies will support efforts to rebuild a replacement raft," she said. The team must also raise several more thousand dollars to finance the repairs and to continue the voyage.
On the raft's last day at sea--March 4--several school stations were on the appointed 20-meter frequency in hopes of talking with the raft's crew. But the matter of securing the raft equipment while awaiting the arrival of the Coast Guard intervened. "John had to hurriedly sign off and begin preparations for the arrival of the Coast Guard vessel," Annie Haslett said.
John Haslett built La Manteña in Salongo, Ecuador, where he also had constructed the Illa Tiki several years earlier. The expedition team eventually hopes to produce a film about its adventure.
For more information, visit the Manteño Expedition Web site.
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