1106 Colonel Reid on Winds. [No. 144. 



which would enable a ship to come up and make a better course to- 

 wards the west. 



These suggestions are offered to practical seamen, in the hope 

 that some persons will be induced to consider this subject ; and if 

 gales really revolve, that advantage may be taken of their mode of 

 action. 



In sailing from the West Indies to Bermuda in the winter sea- 



From Bar- son, the trade wind will generally enable vessels to gain a 



bados to , 



Bermuda. meridian, sufficiently to the westward, before they leave 



the latitudes where it usually blows ; and in winter, it would seem 



desirable to make the 68th or 70th degrees of west longitude, before 



leaving the 25th of latitude. 



In voyages between Bermuda and Halifax, in the winter season, 



From Ber- ^e same reasons hold good for keeping to the westward, 



muda to t> r t> 



Halifax. as have been recommended for the passage from the West 



Indies to Bermuda, but in a much greater degree ; for in this latter 

 case there is not the easterly trade wind to carry ships to the west- 

 ward. — On the contrary, the west wind may blow throughout, whilst 

 the Gulf Stream also would tend to set vessels to the eastward. The 

 degree of westing to be made in this passage in the different seasons, 

 does not seem to be agreed upon. 



The chief object however of this note is to point out the benefit 

 which may be derived from profiting from the east wind, which blows 

 on the polar side of a revolving gale, before the wind shall veer to the 

 westward. 



On leaving England for Bermuda, instead of following the usual 

 From Brig- practice of steering straight for the destined port, on the 

 muda. setting in of an easterly wind, it deserves consideration 



whether ships should not sail west ; and if the wind should veer from 

 the east by the south, towards S.S.W., S.W., and W T est, whether they 

 should not continue on the larboard tack, running free, until by chang- 

 ing, they could lie their course. 



The wind after this might continue to veer towards the north, so 

 that the ship might still come up, with her head to the westward of her 

 direct course. On both tacks she would have sailed on curved lines, the 

 object of which would be to carry her to the westward against the 

 prevailing wind and currents. 



