In search of the South East Trades

Europa is equipped with radar, satellite telecommunications, electronic charts (and even an industrial sized dishwasher), but her true essence is found elsewhere. 

The technology that defines Europa has been fashioned, modified and perfected over millennia. It is one of canvas, blocks, ropes and human endeavour. 

Sailing over the last few days, under what seems to be an entire sky-full of sails we have hoisted, set and lowered almost every sail Europa possesses. 

At the time of writing, only the Stuns’ls and Sky Sails are not flying – the former simply because we are not running directly downwind. 

In this condition, Europa is Oma in her ‘Sunday best’, impressing with her voluminous skirts and quiet authority. Certainly, she draws attention from passing vessels, keen to get a better view of this old lady of the oceans.

Like Oma, Europa knows that the quickest way between two places is not necessarily in a straight line – so we are in search for the South East Trades. 

These are the winds, generated by the differential in atmospheric pressure that exists between the sub-tropical ‘highs’ (roughly along the Tropic of Capricorn) and the low pressure Equatorial zone. Deflected by the Coriolis Force, they blow broadly east to west, south of the Equator. 

The North East Trade winds do the same in the Northern Hemisphere and are named after the ‘trade’ between Europe and North America they facilitated in the age of sail. But we are going further south, to Uruguay. Beyond the horizon, beyond the Doldrums, in search of the South East Trades.