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Small Compass MANTENO EXPEDITION - 1998 Small Compass
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Manteno Plan 1
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Route Map
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Set to begin in Ecuador in July of 1998, the Manteno Expedition (Illa Tiki II) will attempt to further the goals and purposes of the original 1995 Illa Tiki Expedition. With the help of numerous supporters in both North and South America, the six man CREW will build a second BALSA WOOD RAFT, emulating the style of vessel used by the ancient Manteno-Huancavilca mariners of ancient Ecuador. The building process will begin in July and will span from 6 to 8 weeks. The construction will take place 120 miles inland along the river Quevedo, where the nine essential balsa trees will be elled.
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After construction of the hull is completed, the vessel will be navigated, without mast or sail, 120 miles down the four rivers that lead to the sea: the Quevedo, the Vinces, the Babahoyo, and the Guayas. This portion of the expedition poses unique challenges, as a lack of maneuverability, rapidly changing river conditions, and narrow passages combine to make the first major test for the crew and vessel.
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After completion of the river leg of the expedition, the craft will be beached on Isla de Santay, near Guayaquil, 40 river miles from the Pacific Ocean. At this stopping point, the mast and the sail will be erected and the final equipment will be secured. The crew expects to pilot the raft to high sea in the early days of September.
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Following an intense period of testing and navigational training in coastal waters, the Manteno will commence a 5,000 mile voyage to Hawaii. The first leg of the journey requires extreme caution and attention as the raft sails from the mouth of the Guayas river, northward to Panama, and then along the coast Central America to Acapulco, Mexico. It is along this portion of the journey that several dangers will be encountered: being in coastal regions during tropical storms, the possiblitiy of collision with other, large vessles, and maneuvering around coral reefs and rock formations, to name a few.
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After reaching Acapulco (and maybe a day's rest!), the Manteno will set sail on the high sea to the islands of Hawaii. This portion of the expedition will demonstrate both the superior seaworthiness and the navigational ability of the balsa raft. Also, this part of the journey will be a physical, mental, and spiritual battle for the crew as they face the extremes of high sea danger on the one hand, and the monotony of a unchanging and uncaring ocean on the other.
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The Manteno expedition is more than just a challenge for the six people aboard the raft. It is an odyssey into the past, an examination of the lives > of the maritime cultures of South America (see HISTORICAL BACKGROUND). Furthermore, it is an educational experience-- about sailing, about marine life, and about the survival and prospering of man in the harsh conditions of nature. The crew of the Manteno hope that you will share this experience with them as they trek into the unknown.
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