Ocean Challenge Live!
Pilot Charts
Spring 2003

Lieutenant Matthew Fontaine Maury, U.S. Navy, developed the pilot chart idea and the first actual pilot charts between 1840 and 1860. We use them aboard GAII. Pilot charts are available for every ocean, with a separate chart for every month of the year. Each monthly chart shows the probability of wind and strength from each direction in a grid pattern comprised of 5 degrees of latitude by 5 degrees of longitude. The charts also show sea temperature, air temperature, probability of gales, ice limits, calms, wave heights, and much more. They are amazing in their efficiency at conveying data.

We have the complete books of pilot charts for the Indian Ocean, South Atlantic Ocean, and North Atlantic Ocean aboard GAII. We have scanned segments of these charts so that you can see what they are like. We will use these segments on our delivery and voyage.