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Tuesday 27 November 2012

Of Doldrums and tradewinds


Post dedicated to Abhilash Tomy
(who is attempting to be the first Indian on a solo non stop unassisted circumnavigation of the globe)


Now that he is doing fabulously well as far as the voyage is concerned, very close to the tropic of Capricorn.  The people who don't belong to the water world need to update their geography. I, kind of did mine, read up on Google the Great and for the finer nuances checked up with my Captain. He beats Google Guru a lot of the times when it comes to water world. Hence forth all those following the Mhadei need to have the Google and Wiki as a ready reference only then would we, the ladies to be specific will understand that. I remember my geography teacher explaining these topics but who knew then that it was a good idea to have generated better interest and understanding. Its never too late to pick up on the lessons left far behind. Education they say is a life long activity, unlike training that's generally used up or demonstrated immediately after a successful session.

A bit about the trade winds, According to the Wiki, The term trade winds originally derives from the early fourteenth century late Middle English word 'trade' meaning "path" or "track” The Portuguese recognized the importance of the trade winds in navigation in the Atlantic ocean as early as the 15th century. The full wind circulation, which included both the trade wind easterlies and higher-latitude Westerlies, was unknown (to Europeans) across the Pacific ocean until Andres de Urdaneta's voyage in 1565.The captain of a sailing ship seeks a course along which the winds can be expected to blow in the direction of travel. During the Age of Sail the pattern of prevailing winds made various points of the globe easy or difficult to access, and therefore had a direct impact on European empire-building and thus on modern political geography.  By the 18th century the importance of the trade winds to England's merchant fleet for crossing the Atlantic Ocean had led both the general public and etymologists to identify the name with a later meaning of 'trade', (foreign) commerce".Between 1847 and 1849, Matthew Fontaine Maury collected enough information to create wind and current charts for the world's oceans.



Now, there are a lot more people reading about the voyage and of course about the man and the boat as well. I was wondering if the man is any different from his brethren, the fellow men may be women also, of courage and guts .(I count myself out of it). I may have the will power but a tiny meany lizard can get the better of me! Yes all are the same. We feel heat just the way we feel cold, we get upset, frustrated at times just like we feel happiness, triumph and glory at the other times. What makes the people who venture out on their own,  is the mental make up. A lot of cream, mousse, rouge and whatever else you can think of!


Great going Sailor, you are making us brush up on our geography. I do recollect the doldrums, the jet streams and Coriolis effect now. Wishing you more fair winds and following seas. That's what the sailors wish. 

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