Object: Storm

Storms at sea had a serious impact on the trade routes of the 17th Century.   Ships, all passengers, and cargo could be lost at sea, or blown very far off course.

N'oreaster Storms in particular, could create tremendous waves that brought ships up onto the shore.

Prevailing winds and trade winds were used for shipping, and the timing of departure was important if you were hoping to 'catch the wind' to help speed the journey.  Leaving too early or too late could put the journey in danger of encountering storms.

See the diagram of global winds below.