Preview: Tom Robinson’s Solo Row Across the Pacific – Update #18 – Shore Team: Samoa-bound

A NOTE FROM THE SHORE TEAM: SAMOA-BOUND

from Tom “Mahuta” Robinson’s Shore Team

At the time of writing, Tom, in Maiwar, was around 80 nautical miles (148 km) from the Island of Tau in American Samoa. It’s at S14 14, W169 28 and is marked on Tom’s tracker as Leusoalii. Zoom in to see the remarkable escarpment on its southern side.

Tom is hoping that conditions will be right for him to stop there for a few days. The island looks very interesting. It is, in effect, a mountain jutting out of the ocean. While it is only 10 km long, its highest point is 931 m. He should have no problem seeing it long before he gets there!

With the only place where Maiwar can shelter being one of the two small harbours cut from the coral fringe on the north west of the island, a successful landing will depend on benign weather and swells. Some serious nail-biting coming up!

Of course, wind and current may prevent Tom from landing at Tau, in which case he is likely to choose somewhere else in American Samoa or Western Samoa to land… we’ll keep you posted.

A shot from our daily check of Tom’s tracker

Mahuta reads all the comments on his posts (when he’s not in the middle of the ocean and has internet access), so we encourage you to leave him a comment or question below. And as always, we encourage you to visit

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2 Responses So Far to “Tom Robinson’s Solo Row Across the Pacific – Update #18 – Shore Team: Samoa-bound

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    Michael Ryan says:

    Tom..Hope all is well and you are back in rowing shape. Be safe out there and we here have you in our thoughts. Peace

  • Heidi Roy

    Heidi Roy says:

    Good Luck out there Tom, I am not a boater but love to visit the ocean sites be safe