I think the detour to Caribbean does make sense if you’re on a sailing ship. You want the most downwind route, not necessarily the shortest route. I think that detour skirts around the typical Azores high, which is associated with very low wind speeds.
I don’t know about the east coast of Madagascar. But one theory is it might be like Florida: Between Florida and the Bahamas, there’s a quite strong northbound current, so southbound sailing vessels will swing way out east of the Bahamas.
I think the detour to Caribbean does make sense if you’re on a sailing ship. You want the most downwind route, not necessarily the shortest route. I think that detour skirts around the typical Azores high, which is associated with very low wind speeds.
I don’t know about the east coast of Madagascar. But one theory is it might be like Florida: Between Florida and the Bahamas, there’s a quite strong northbound current, so southbound sailing vessels will swing way out east of the Bahamas.
Isn’t that the Bermuda’s triangle? Scary stuff happens there, let me tell you.