RU29 has a cluster of seamounts due east of it. Over the weekend we tried to pass to the south, but our trajectory says no. Strong currents to the north prevented us from heading on a southeast track. We checked the current forecasts for an alternative plan.
Below is the RTOFS forecast for today. Strong currents to the north for the next few hundred kilometers. Followed by strong currents to the south.
We are planning to change the waypoint to due east. Combined with the current to the north, the glider trajectory will be northeast, and we will pass north of the seamount cluster. We’ll then continue into the southward flowing currents, and let the ocean take us back south.