The strongest westerly winds in the middle latitudes are called the Roaring Forties, between 50 degrees south latitude, within the Southern Hemisphere.
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Ships would drop below the Roaring Forties ( 40�S latitudes ) to make use of the prevailing westerlies which carried them around Cape Horn.
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In 1611 Hendrik Brouwer, working for VOC, discovered that sailing from Europe to Batavia was much quicker if the Roaring Forties were used.
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The Route took ships south from the Cape into the Roaring Forties, then east across the Indian Ocean, before turning northwest for Java.
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After rounding the bulge of Africa he sailed directly south across the trade winds and, helped by the Brazil Current reached the roaring forties.
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While in the south, they sail upwind against winds in the Roaring Forties, often 60 knots or more across open ocean unchecked from Antarctica.
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The strongest westerly winds in the middle latitudes are within a band known as the Roaring Forties, between 50 degrees latitude south of the equator.
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The fleet made good progress, but as the larger ships needed more wind power, they diverted further south, deeper into the Roaring Forties.
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Round-the-world sailors also take advantage of the Roaring Forties to speed travel times, in particular those involved in record attempts or races.
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A tall wall was then built along the windward side of the island to provide shelter for the shipyards from the roaring forties blowing up the harbour.
