Hey All,
So Challenger is continuing to inch ever closer to the Azores (<250km) as we begin preparing for next weeks inspection off the coast of Terceira. However this also means we are getting closer to the Sedlo Seamounts (<60km).
These seamounts as we had mentioned last week may reach up to nearly 500m from the surface, which poses a threat to our brave little droid.
To make it worse, three models of sea surface height with currents confirm there is a large warm eddy just to our west that could be strong enough to pull us right into range of the seamounts which would be detrimental to our flight.
ULPGC data for SSH and Currents
HYCOM SSH and Currents
Model from Antonio at ULPGC
Since late last week now, we have been flying with the current correction on try and keep us as close to the path to Terceira as possible so hopefully that will aid us in avoiding being dragged too far west towards the seamounts. Also we may move the waypoint further east a bit to try and point us more away from the obstacle and towards the rendezvous point for late next week. We have also moved the way point east to 25.5 to try and steer ourselves away.
As always Force Wind Sea & Honor
Nilsen, Antonio & Oliver