Since Thor Heyerdahl's remarkable crossing of the pacific in 1947 the study of pre-Columbian rafts has seen little advancements. Over the past 80 years, numerous raft expeditions have been conducted in the Pacific, yet with little scientific success concerning the steering technique of these ancient vessels.

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Historical Spanish accounts describe the surprisingly excellent sailing capabilities of these primitive rafts. However, no expedition has yet fully replicated the performances described in these sources. The technique of steering, involving the use of boards inserted between the logs at various points, remains somewhat enigmatic. Aside from a sketch by Heyerdahl, documentation is sparse.

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In a breakthrough test run in 2022, we successfully executed all common sailing maneuvers with a wooden raft, managing to sail as close as 90 degrees to the wind. Previously, turning and sailing closer than 100 degrees to the wind were thought to be impossible.

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Our expedition aims to provide the first thorough description of this ancient steering technique and to demonstrate that these rafts could indeed exhibit sailing characteristics comparable to contemporary European ships. Join us on this journey as we uncover the mysteries of these incredible rafts and their navigational capabilities.