Doldrums': a state of stagnation or depression, or an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds. Or so my dictionary puts it.
For sailors, the transition from the northern to southern hemispheres in the Atlantic can be a trying and often frustrating time. We leave the steady tradewinds of the northern hemisphere with our main aim to minimize the time taken before we progress into the South Atlantic trade wind belt - this is passing through the doldrums, or the 'Pot-au-Noir', as the French put it.
In meteorology, we now use the more scientific term Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where we can meet conditions we associate with the doldrums; calms, squalls, and thunderstorms. The ITCZ can be thought of as the thermal equator of the world that separates the northern and southern weather systems.
WHY THEY'RE TRICKY
The term ITCZ describes why we get the conditions we know as the doldrums. The tradewinds of the northern hemisphere, driven by the Azores High, are east- to northeasterlies, tending to be more easterly as we get further south towards the ITCZ. Meanwhile the tradewinds of the southern hemisphere mirror these, being driven by the South Atlantic High (often referred to as the St Helena High) and are east- to south-easterlies. Where they come together is the ITCZ.
Where we get convergence in airstreams we get an ascent of air: as the air rises clouds form and as this region is very warm and the air humid, when the air is forced upwards large cumulonimbus clouds form giving squalls and thunderstorms. In addition, where we get ascent of air, we get a lowering of the surface pressure so between the winds of the two hemispheres we get a trough of lower pressure.
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Yachting World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Yachting World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
EXTRAORDINARY BOATS: NIGEL SHARP ON THE YACHTING WORLD DIAMOND
The Yachting World Diamond is a Jack Holt design which continues to attract devotees who sail them on some extraordinary adventures - in Australia, 60 years after its conception
5 EXPERT TIPS: CHRIS BROOKS ON SAILING OFFSHORE IN BIG CONDITIONS
Sailing in the middle of the world's oceans gave Chris Brooks plenty of experience handling big weather conditions. He shares his knowledge here with Andy Rice.
NAVIGATION BRIEFING
Inaugurated in 2009, the RORC Caribbean 600 is a relatively recent addition to the calendar of 600-mile offshore yacht races, adding to the list of established bluewater classics like the Rolex Fastnet and Sydney Hobart races.
SPECIAL REPORT: MARK CHISNELL ON PROBLEM SOLVING AT SEA
On his new book, Knowledge 2.0, author Mark Chisnell - who has been published on a wide range of topics and is also a former professional sailor, navigator, and most recently a rules advisor for the British America's Cup challenge INEOS Britannia - offers a 'user's guide to knowledge'.
NIKKI HENDERSON
NO MATTER HOW TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED OUR SPORT GETS, IT'S THE HUMANS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
MATTHEW SHEAHAN
HURTLING AROUND THE OCEANS ALONE IN GARGANTUAN MULTIHULLS CAPABLE OF HUGE SPEEDS AND UNTHINKABLE CAPSIZES - REQUIRES A MENTAL LEAP
Ainslie steps down as SailGP driver
Sir Ben Ainslie, who is both CEO, skipper and co-helmsman of the British America's Cup team INEOS Britannia, and CEO and skipper of the SailGP entry.
Around the world in company
January 2024 saw two fleets of cruisers set off on a sociable circumnavigation, with the 13th edition of the World ARC departing Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, meanwhile the Oyster World Rally fleet also began their world tour from Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua.
Ocean Globe Race skipper quits after false declaration
The third leg of the Ocean Globe Race, the Whitbread-era-style around the world race, is underway from Auckland, New Zealand to Punta del Este, Uruguay on a classic Southern Ocean leg. However, the skipper of race leaders Translated 9, the Swan 65 which won both Legs 1 and 2, has stepped down after breaching the race rules regarding sail repairs and making a false declaration.
Cruisers awarded
Kirsten Neuschäfer, the winner of the Golden Globe Race and the first woman ever to win a solo nonstop around the world ocean race, is among the skippers honoured in the Cruising Club of America's 2023 awards.