Topical Guide 732
Mark Dorset
Travel: Ocean Voyage
Plans and Schemes
What a Piece of Work I Am, Chapter 42:
“SHE WAS FAILING,” said Ariane, “so the point of the deception changed. Now we wanted to get to Rarotonga before she died.”
“So the trade winds picked up.”
“Something like that. It became a kind of race—”
“Against death.”
“Yeah. We made the Marquesas and picked our way through the Society Islands, and we were scrambling, you know? All the sail was out.
On Saturday, May 18, 2024, I asked ChatGPT to show me a route from [a location on Long Island, New York where Babbington might be located] to Rarotonga by sailing ship.
Here is the response I received, lightly edited and re-formatted, by me:
Sailing from [Babbington], New York, to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands involves navigating a route that crosses multiple oceans and requires careful planning to take advantage of prevailing winds and currents. Here’s a general outline of the route you might take:
Leg 1: [Babbington], New York, to the Caribbean Sea
Depart [Babbington], NY: Head south through the Atlantic Ocean.
East Coast of the U.S.: Sail along the East Coast, making use of coastal winds and currents.
Pass through the Bahamas: Navigate through the Bahamas, using the Windward Passage or other channels to enter the Caribbean Sea.
Leg 2: Caribbean Sea to Panama Canal
Sail through the Caribbean Sea: Take advantage of the trade winds to sail westward across the Caribbean.
Approach Panama Canal: Head towards the Panama Canal entrance on the Caribbean side.
Leg 3: Panama Canal Transit
Transit the Panama Canal: Navigate through the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
Leg 4: Panama to South Pacific
Pacific Ocean: Upon exiting the Panama Canal, sail southwest.
Galápagos Islands: Consider a stopover in the Galápagos Islands for resupply and rest.
South Pacific Crossing: Head southwest across the vast expanse of the South Pacific, aiming for the Society Islands (Tahiti, Bora Bora).
Leg 5: Society Islands to Cook Islands
Society Islands: After reaching the Society Islands, sail westward towards the Cook Islands.
Arrival at Rarotonga: Navigate to Rarotonga, the largest island in the Cook Islands.
Detailed Considerations:
Weather and Seasons: It’s essential to plan your departure to avoid hurricane seasons in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Currents and Trade Winds: Utilize the North Atlantic Gyre to travel south and the North Equatorial Current to assist in reaching the Caribbean. After crossing the Panama Canal, the South Equatorial Current and the Southeast Trade Winds will be crucial for crossing the South Pacific.
Supplies and Resupply Points: Plan for stops to resupply, particularly in the Caribbean and possibly the Galápagos or Society Islands.
Example Route Map
[Babbington], NY: 40.6957° N, 73.3257° W
Caribbean Sea: Approx. 15.0° N, 75.0° W
Panama Canal: 9.0800° N, 79.6800° W
Galápagos Islands: 0.9538° S, 90.9656° W
Society Islands: 17.6797° S, 149.4068° W
Rarotonga, Cook Islands: 21.2292° S, 159.7764° W
This route covers a distance of approximately 8,000 to 9,000 nautical miles and would take several months to complete, depending on the speed of the vessel and the conditions encountered along the way. Proper planning and experience in ocean navigation are essential for a journey of this magnitude.
See also:
Plans and Schemes TG 44
Travel: Road Trip USA TG 390
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