Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-13
THE BERMUDA GALES
HOW THE CURRENT NEAR THE
ISLAND rs INFLUENCED.
On the Track of Hurricanes and Re
volving Storms Sailing Direc-
tons for Ships.

An officer Of the photographic office, re-
ferring to the wreck Of the Madiana near
North Rock on the northern reefs of Ber-
muda, gave Star reported an interesting
summary Of the sailing directions for ships
navigating those waters.
"The Bermuda Islands, he said, ARE
about 24O miles to the southwark and AGO
miles to the eastward of the outer limits
of the gulf stream. Hence the current in
the neighborhood is exceedingly variable,
both in force and direction. Generally,
however, 1t appears to be greatly influenced
by the wind, particularly If 1t has blown
from the same point for several days, when
it's velocity may be found to be one knot an
hour, or more, in the opposite direction.
The utmost attention to the reckoning is
therefore requisite and should the vessels
position be at all doubtful, and the weather
unfavorable for seeing the light, the par
allel should not be crossed in the midnight
for the edge of the bank Is too close to the
reef for soundings to give safe warning.
Hurricanes and Revolving Storms.
''The islands appear to lie near the north
ern limit of the variable winds. and also
on the track of hurricanes and revolving
storms passing off and along the shore Of
North America. which is distant about 600
miles, The revolving winds which pass over
the Islands vary in strength from breezes to
storms In the summer season the winds
are light and usually steady for consid-
cradle time, blowing in straight lines or
from one point, with but little fluctuation
in the barometer. But after the commence
ment of November veering winds of various
degrees Of force set in and gradually be-
come frequent yet they seldom follow in
such rapid succession as that one gale be-
comes COMPOUNDED with another. Light
winds and very fine weather usually inter-
vene between the passing of revolving
winds, while at other times hard-blowing,
straight-line winds, with high barometer
are experienced.
The arrival of such succeeding progress
i've rotary winds is indicated by the barom-
eter falling, as well by the increase of
the winds force. which will often occur
suddenly. Except in the case of great
storms. perfect regularity in the fall and
rise of the barometer. and in the changes
of the wind. will not be found; for the di-
rection Of the wind. well as the atmos-
pheric pressure, is doubt modified by
other revolving gales or strong winds blow
ing at the same time, but when whirlwinds
tempests or hurricanes blow they over
power such regularities.
The Winter Winds.
"In the winter season northerly winds
sometimes blow hard without veering for
two or three days together. The air is then
dry and cold and while the thermometer
falls the barometer remains stationary, or
common. but it constantly happens that a
change of weather is first announced by
decrease of both the temperature and the
moisture in the air. The December gales
generally commence from the south. veer
round by the west and terminate at about
northwest or north-northwest.
During the winter months most of the
gales which pass along the coast of North
America are revolving gales. Vessels from
Bermuda. bound to that shore, therefore
put to sea when the northwest wind, which
is the conclusion Of a passing gale is be-
coming moderate, and the barometer Is ris-
ing to it's usual level. The probability is,
more particularly in the winter season, that
after short calm the next succeeding wind
will be easterly the first part OF a fresh
revolving wind coming up from the south
west quarter.
Sailing Directions for Ships.
"a ship bound to New York or to the
Chesapeake might sail while the wind is
still west and blowing hard. provided the
barometer indicates that this west wind is
owing to a revolving gale which will veer
to the northward. But the usual tract
which gales follow in this hemisphere is
northerly northeasterly. such a ship
should be steered to the southwark AS the
wind at west veers toward northwest and
north the vessel would come up. ana at
last make a westerly course, ready to take
advantage of the east wind at the setting in
of the next revolving gale
"a vessel at New York and bound to Ber-
muda at the time when a revolving gale Is
passing along the American coast, should
not wait in port for the westerly wind, but
sail soon the first portion of the gale
has passed by and the northeast wind is
veerng toward the north, provided 1t
should not blow too hard for the north
wind will veer to the westward and become