"Horse latitudes or Subtropical High are subtropic latitudes between 30 and 35 degrees both north and south. This region, under a ridge of high pressure called the subtropical ridge, is an area which receives little precipitation and has variable winds mixed with calm.
The term "horse latitudes" may owe its name to tradition. Early colonialist sailors, while traversing the oceans, would become stalled in the low winds and little current. The confused sea often slowed colonial ships for days to weeks due to lack of propulsion. The crew would throw horses overboard in order to conserve water and food. This also reduced the weight of the ship, thereby lightening the load and increased the speed of the ship in the low winds."
Are we meant to throw something overboard?
1 comment:
well, in terms of architectural design, what do you think you can do without? function? form? site?
what do you need to jettison to get the ship going again? or do you just have to wait for the weather to change?
You're right about the horse latitudes. I've sort of used it as a metaphor for a pause in proress, before the voyage recommences.
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