I'm hoping somebody familiar with sailing ships will be able to answer a question--
Sebastian Vizcaino, exploring the Pacific Coast of the peninsula in 1602, wrote that his ships were unable to advance even a league in eight days.
"This was not for lack of wind," he said, "but because whatever distance they would have sailed, the force of the currents--which were contrary to the
wind, made them lose. A matter of surprise to all. When the wind died out the currents stopped, and when the wind began to blow they began to run. The
secret of this could never be made out. God knows the cause and the reason for it."
My question: Was this combination of wind and current unusual, or do similar conditions still sometimes occur today along the Baja California coast?
[Edited on 8-31-2009 by bajalera]Crusoe - 8-30-2009 at 04:58 PM
The design of those old "Clipper Ships" (era 16000) was the primary reason for many. They were unable to sail against the wind, much less against any
contrary current. About the same as going to sea now, in a huge inertube with a rudder lashed aboard and a broomstick for a mast and a bedsheet for a
sail. They were basicly sea going rafts. They did have the advantage of carrying yawlboats (20 t0 30ft.) that could be launched from on deck and rowed
and sailed and used for exploratuon. Efficient large ship sailing designs didn't appear on the scene until the early 1800's. ++C++ monoloco - 8-30-2009 at 05:00 PM
Because of prevailing northwest winds and current it is necessary to sail out towards Hawaii in order make it up north. A few years ago we helped a
sailor who grounded his boat on the beach at Elias Calle. He had no motor and had been trying to sail north for 2 days out of Cabo. His loran
indicated his position precisely but he thought that it was broken because he couldn't believe he had only made 30 some miles north in 2 days.Bajahowodd - 8-30-2009 at 05:06 PM
Tack.
Tacky ?
MrBillM - 8-30-2009 at 05:23 PM
Square-Riggers could (usually) sail no closer to the wind than 60 degrees.
Even today, there are plenty of situations where an adverse current can overwhelm your ability to sail against it in a light wind. We once spent over
an hour sailing off of Tortola without making a mile of progress. I finally started the motor so we could get to our destination before Dusk.
There's one channel off of Saint Thomas that the guides warn against trying to sail North through in all but the most favorable wind because it's
narrow enough to require short tacks and the current runs 5 knots or more at peak flood.
Sailing off of Percebu in my Capri once, we had to beach and wait for the tide to turn because we were being carried South while sailing North.Hook - 8-30-2009 at 06:25 PM
Well, to address the original question, there does seem to be a corollary between the phases of the moon and the movement of the winds, in my
experience. Strong tidal movements are often accompanied by periods of wind.
I have nothing empirical to point to on this. It's just what I have experienced.Crusoe - 8-30-2009 at 06:32 PM
Hook-- You are spot on!!! Full moons as a rule,higher and lower tides. More water moving =higher volume of water= stronger faster currents. ++C++Hook - 8-30-2009 at 07:25 PM
Well, of course there is more moving water. What I was driving at is that WINDS also seem to move more when tides are moving.Crusoe - 8-30-2009 at 08:33 PM
Hook-- The Wind Gods are a big Mystery-- Much like the Female. At times uncontrolable. You have to learn and learn and re-learn. Just life!!!
++C++BMG - 8-30-2009 at 08:40 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalera
My question: Was this combination of wind and current unusual, or do similar conditions still sometimes occur today along the Baja California coast?
Wind driven currents are the norm. What Vizcaino describes does not seem to fit what I understand about currents.
Basically, a wind driven current can be estimated at about 2% of the wind speed over the surface of the water. This does not happen instantly though
as Vizcaino seems to indicate.
The current generated by wind flows on the surface at an angle to the wind, not in the actual direction of the wind. In shallow water this angle can
be as little as 10 degrees up to 45 degrees in deep water. This is something a veteran seaman would realize and not call it contrary, or so I would
think.
Short term wind driven currents also combine with prevailing currents that increase their speed. Water depth and tides also play a large role in
currents as already mentioned.
Does the article you read mention where on the coast they encountered these conditions?
This site only covers a little area of northern Baja but it is interesting to see how surface currents are constantly changing.
Wind and Current
MrBillM - 8-30-2009 at 10:49 PM
Having seen many Tidal Changes over many years at one place, I think that the anecdotal "theory" of said relationship is akin to that of people who
"experience" Premonitions.
WHEN the event DOES occur, you remember it as reinforcing your belief, when it doesn't, you ignore it.
Years ago, I had a (somewhat crazy) neighbor in Baja who confidently told me that High winds accompanied high (Spring) tides and would remind me every
time it happened. Over a period of time, I would remind HIM everytime the wind made a non-appearance with said tides or we had a really windy day on
Neap Tides.
He's long gone now, but occasionally when we have a really high tide and no wind, I say to my wife "Remember Dee" ?
