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the Degree Confluence Project
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Cuba

26.7 km (16.6 miles) ESE of Punta Negra (Cape), Guantánamo, Cuba
Approx. altitude: 0 m (0 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 20°S 106°E

Accuracy: 35 m (114 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: View toward NW #3: GPS display #4: Container ship "CSAV Chicago" northbound in the Windward Passage #5: Rough sea in the northern part of the Windward Passage #6: Seamen doing maintenance work #7: Breakers splashing on the ship's main deck #8: More breakers splashing on the ship's main deck #9: The seaman is getting wet feet

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  20°N 74°W  

#1: View toward WNW

(visited by Captain Peter)

13-Dec-2007 -- A few days ago I joined again my ship, the "UBC SYDNEY", whilst she was berthed in Venezuela in order to load 31,000 tons of petroleum coke for Searsport in Maine (USA). For this voyage I choose a track through the Windward Passage, which is about 45 nautical miles (83 km) wide and situated between the northwest end of Hispaniola and the east end of Cuba. Windward Passage is one of the main routes used by ships trading between the east coast of North America and the Caribbean Sea.

The closest and only visible land to this Confluence 20N 74W is the east end of Cuba. Although not very well discernible from this distance, the coast of Cuba in this area is steep-to and backed by a mountain ridge running parallel to and cut in places by small rivers and creeks. It consists of cliffs and sheer rocky walls, interrupted here and there by sandy beaches. The views to WNW and NW give us at least a slight idea of.

Another ship has just overtaken us, the "CSAV Chicago", bound for New York. She is German flagged and chartered by CSAV, which stands for "Compañia Sudamericana de Vapores" (based in Valparaiso, Chile).

As it is common in the Windward Passage, the sea is getting rough when reaching its northern part, as it is fully exposed to the northeast Trade winds. Whilst my crew can still comfortably work on the ship's port side (left) in leeward, on the starboard side the breakers do already splash on the main deck, and the seaman here walking on the wrong side of the ship is getting wet feet. ;-)


 All pictures
#1: View toward WNW
#2: View toward NW
#3: GPS display
#4: Container ship "CSAV Chicago" northbound in the Windward Passage
#5: Rough sea in the northern part of the Windward Passage
#6: Seamen doing maintenance work
#7: Breakers splashing on the ship's main deck
#8: More breakers splashing on the ship's main deck
#9: The seaman is getting wet feet
ALL: All pictures on one page
  Notes
In the Windward Passage between Cuba and Haiti, but with a view of land.