492 PASSAGES OVER THE ATLANTIC. 



Ships bound to the Northward should cross the Equator between 25" and 

 30° W., as by doing so they will avoid the lighter Winds which prevail 

 near the South American land on the one side, and also those which exist 

 in the Eastern halves of Squares 3 and 39 on the other, beside getting a 

 mo^ Easterly N.E. Trade. 



December. 



Ships boJind to the Southward should pass to the Westward of the Cape 

 Verd Islands, where^ although the Wind is much more Easterly than it is 

 to the Eastward of them, it is decidedly stronger. On the Eastern side 

 (between 14° and 16° N.) the Wind Chart of Square 39 shows that there i3 

 15 per cent, of Calm. Ships should haul a litfle to the Eastward after 

 passing the islands, so as to take the first of the S.E. Trade in about 

 25° W., or slightly farther Bast, then take the tack which gives the most 

 Southing. The prevailing Current is Westerly throughout this route, and, 

 as the diagram sh6w8, averages 25 miles in 24 hours near the Equator, so 

 that a dull sailer, which is not weatherly, should make rather more Easting 

 before getting the S.E. Trade. 



Winds. — Referring to the Eastern half of the December Wind Chart for 

 Square 303, and taking S.E by E. as a central point, then, when the 

 Wind is not from that point : — ■ 



Between 0° & 2° S. th« probability is about 3 to 2 that it will be more Easterly 



or North Easterly. 

 „ 2° & 6° S. „ „ 2 to 1 



6° & 8° S. „ „ 3 to 1 



8° & 10° S. „ „ 6 to 1 



In December the tendency to be more Easterly o» North-Easterly than 

 B.E. by B., when not from that point, prevails throughout the square. 



The Current is still Westerly, averaging from 20 to 30 miles in 24 hours, 

 and sometimes exceeding 30 miles ; it is strongest in the Northern half of 

 the square. There is still much smooth sea in its Southern part. 



The Remarks on Wind, in Square 303, give cases of ships which crossed 

 the Equator in 30° W., or farther West ; they all had to tack off the land, 

 and would no doubt have done better if they had not crossed to the West- 

 ward of 29° W. One ship was so hampered by Southerly Winds and 

 Westerly Currents near South America that she stood to the North-East- 

 ward, and re-crossed the Equator to maJte Easting, not getting to 10° S. 

 before 25 days after her first crossing ! ! 



Ships bound to the Northward should cross the Equator between 25° and 

 30° W., thus avoiding on the one hand the lighter winds which prevail near 

 the coast of South America, and on the other the light Winds and Calma 

 which are more common on the Eastern than on the Western side of 

 Square 3. On the Western side of Square 39 the winds are very favour- 

 able for going to the Northward, but quite the reverse on its Eastern side. 



