The New Zealander's like to use the term "Squash Zone" to describe a weather phenomenon in the south pacific. The squash zone is the area between a large high pressure system in the south and the low pressure of the south pacific convergence zone to the north. Did that make sense? Remember, my weather skills can be poor.

Lets try an example. A yacht leaves Rarotonga heading west to Niue. A Big Fat High (BFH) pressure system forms near Australia and heads east. As the yacht going west passes to the north of the BFH going east, the yacht will experience two things: a raising barometer and horrendous weather.

If the yacht in the example was about 150 mile east of Niue as the BFH past to the south, it would have experienced winds up to 40 knots and 20' seas. If the yacht in the example was unlucky enough to be out there on September 12th, they would have also experienced total darkness due to heavy rain and no moon.

It could possibly be the worst 24 hours ever spent on a boat.