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Best Monthly Routes across the Equator, by Captain Toynbrr, 



F.R.G.3., F.R.A.S., etc. 



Although the following suggestions are considered to be the safest, when 

 giving advice for all classes of ships, they are not intended to over-ride a 

 captain's own judgment, for he has the advantage of knowing the qualities 

 of his own ship. The navigator should first consult the diagrams of the 

 month in which he is about to pass through the district ; they will show 

 him the direction and strength of the Prevailing Winds and Currents he 

 is likely to meet with. 



Special attention is necessary in critical parts of the sea, such as that 

 near Cape St. Eoque, where at one season of the year outward-bound ships 

 are liable to be caught by Southerly winds and leeward currents, and at 

 another season of the year homeward-bounders by Ught North-Easterly 

 and Northerly winds. 



By Captain Toynbee's wish we add the following to his remarks : — 



" The navigator must remember that it is impossible to lay down fixed 

 tracks for him to follow, because the winds are not always the same at 

 the same time of year. The tracks given on the accompanying diagrams 

 are those which it is probable the wind will permit him to follow. 

 Sometimes he will be able to do better than to strictly follow these 

 tracks ; at others he may be driven to do worse. He should not go out 

 of his way to follow them, neither should he be guided by them alone, 

 but, by reading the remarks on the following pages, form an independent 

 opinion. 



" To the Outward-bounder the tracks indicate the best routes for wind, 

 and a safe longitude for crossing the Equator into the region of the S.E. 

 Trades, keeping clear of the coast of South America. To the Homeward- 

 bounder they indicate the best routes for wind across the Equator and up 

 to the Southern limit of the N.E. Trades." 



January. 



Ships hound to tlie Southward should pass to the Westward of the Cape 

 Verd Islands, for although the wind is equally strong close to their Eastern 

 side in January, it is decidedly stronger on the Western than on the 

 Eastern side of Square 3. 



Although the North-Easterly Wind prevails to tht Equator West of the 

 meridian of 30° W., and fast weatherly ships have done well after crossing 

 the Equator to the Westward of that meridian, others have been hampered 

 by the land, which is shown by the January Wind remarks. A dull sailing 

 ship which crossed the Equator in 32° 45' W., on December 13th, was 25 

 days before she cleared the land ! The safest Westerly limit for such a 

 dull sailer is 26° to 27° W. 



