Sign In

Including A Description of Travel onThe Gulf Stream

Three page hand written set of sailing directions, explaining the route from Europe to the Mouth of the Mississippi River.

The text provides detailed instructions for navigation through the Caribbean to Louisiana and the return trip via the Bahama Canal and Gulf Stream, with notes on how to respond to the winds and currents in the Bahama Channel.

The paper and watermark ( D & C Blauw) can be dated to the second half of the 18th Century.  This is the paper making company that dates to the early 17th Century under the Blaeu family.  The handwriting suggests sometime in the in the 18th century.

Route to Louisiana,

Leaving from Europe we will sail towards the Samana Cape to "Isle of Santo Domingo"  from there we will sail to the north towards the mole St-Nicolas we will then sail between the mole and the point towards of the Island of Cuba.

Staying under the wind to go through the island of Cuba and Santo Domingo, we will aim to the Island of Jamaica. We hopefully then will sail the Grand Cayman Island which can be recognized easily 2 to 3 miles from far away. We should have the Grand Cayman in the south behind us and currants do become then violent in the Queen's Garden (Jardines de la Reina) that must be avoided.

We then should see the  "isle des Pins" [Isle of Pines] which is similar to Cape St-Antoine (Cuba) then we will seek new directions towards Cape St Antoine, we will set course and for more safety we will avoid the shallows of the island of Tortuga as the currants are varaibles and can vary by 5 degrees North & East.

we arrived at laitude 29 degrees which is the location mouth of the [Mississippi] river, if you see land then the river mouth will be visible, if not visible you went to far North or South, 

The pilotes will meet with you 4 to 5 miles out and will come aboard when closer.

The route to return from Louisiana is different, you have to sail towards the deep waters of  the Tortuguillas [Les Tortues Seches our Tortugillas - Dry Tortugas] and sail towards Cuba island, the currents from the west will carry but are quite violent. We will pass the island of Cuba on the North all the way to the "Pain de Matane" (Matanzas Bay) which is south of the Bahamas Channel, you must not lose out of sight the mountain of the " Isle des Chats" [Cat Cays] then Martyr island [Grand Martir / Key Largo] in the Bahamas Channel, you should always stay " half Channel". However if the winds are blowing East, you should then keep on that side or make way the most possible. You should always pay attention when the winds coming from the North in the Channel because the currents are carrying.