Appendix 1 



Reef Information for Navigators 



We include this section because no accurate hydrological 

 chart exists, and the Pacific Islands Pilot ( Hy drographer of the 

 Navy, 1982) section for Caroline is incomplete. Arundel's 

 1883 map (Admiralty Chart No. 979, Fig. 4) is still used today. 



Caroline has neither a deep pass, nor navigable channels 

 into the lagoon, nor a ship anchorage beyond the reef. In 1 873, 

 a set of moorings was placed off the west coast of South Island 

 for the convenience of guano ships, approximately "a mile 

 north of the south-west point, in about 60 fathoms of water and 

 some distance from the shore" (Maude, ca. 1942). These are 

 long gone, although small boats can still anchor within the 

 close lee of South Island during normal trade winds. Today's 

 ships, however, must drift well offshore after approaching the 

 atoll from the west (PI. 12). 



Of special note is a possible extension of the perimeter reef 

 south and southwest of Caroline. Arundel's map notes: "Reef 

 reported to extend four cables from southeast point." This 

 information probably originated in Findlay's South Pacific 

 Directory of 1884. quoted by Holden (1884). Evidently the 

 windward reef of South Island extends approximately 1.7 km 

 from its southeast point. From here "this reef sends out two 

 branches to a distance of 2.5 km. one toward the southeast, the 

 other toward the southwest and is consequently dangerous to 

 approach at night." Arundel's map does not include this 

 bifurcation which, according to Findlay ( 1 884 ). extends at least 

 across the width of South Island. He also states that "a landing 

 (not always safe) may be effected on the north side of the 

 southwest bifurcation, described above." No trace of these 

 submerged reefs is evident on the RNZAF aerial photos. 



The "boat entrance" (Fig. 4). a narrow nick in the outer 

 leeward reef, marked by the stock and ring of an anchor 

 and immediately to the west of South Island's northwest point, 

 is not necessarily the easiest route to the lagoon. Landing 

 is possible across the steep-to reef at many locations along 

 the leeward reef; opposite the southern end of Ana-Ana is 

 good. 



Landing is fairly straightforward by the anchor when the 

 seas are calm, especially when one becomes familiar with the 

 crooked notch that narrowly pierces the outer reef. After 

 negotiating a powerful backwash, one's boat is swept onto the 

 shallow reef flats — liberally laced with chunks of jagged 

 reef — which is exposed at low tide and barely covered at high 

 tide. A swift current passes west out of the lagoon between 

 South Island and Ana- Ana, sweeping over the reef at the notch. 

 Only small craft with virtually no draft can effect the 500-m 

 journey to South Island. Because the shallows are unchanneled 

 and not navigable even at high tide, one's small boat must be 

 carefully hauled through the water to a sheltered landing spot 

 adjacent to South Island's northwest point (PI. 12). 



An alternative landing method used by yachts in calm 

 weather is via the "blind passage" (Structure and Topography 

 section. Fig. 50). adjacent to the northeast corner of South 

 Island. Despite the fact that the inner one-third of this narrow 

 diverticulum is calm ( and used for the residents' yacht mooring), 

 the outer two-thirds are rough and dangerous most of the time. 

 Its channel leading to and from the open sea is particularly 

 turbulent and should not be attempted without assistance from 

 the residents, and only at first light. 



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