Mon Prof Augmenté
The Big Sailing Loop Across the Atlantic
Age 11 · Geography
Sailing ships could not simply go straight across the ocean, because they needed the wind behind them. So they sailed south to catch winds blowing west, then came home far to the north where the winds blow east.
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Age 11: open this week
Browse Age 11
In the picture
- Ship sailing west across the warm tropical sea toward the Americas
- Trade winds blowing from the east, pushing ships west
- Ship sailing home toward Europe on the northern route
- Westerly winds blowing from the west, pushing ships east
Examples
- When you ride a bike, you might take a longer road just to keep the wind at your back, because it makes the ride easier.
- A flight from New York to London is often shorter than the flight back, because strong winds high up blow from west to east.
Key takeaways
- Near the tropics, trade winds blow from the east toward the west.
- Farther north, westerlies blow from the west, carrying ships back to Europe.
Quiz: The Big Sailing Loop Across the Atlantic (Age 11)
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Why didn’t sailing ships just sail in a straight line across the ocean?
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A sailing ship is leaving Europe for the Americas. Which way should it go first to find winds that push it west?
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How did sailing ships usually get back home to Europe?
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