Sailors face the unpredictable challenges of the Pot-au-Noir as they approach the Equator, navigating through chaotic weather where trade winds converge. This region, notorious for sudden squalls and calm spells, can dramatically alter race standings in events like the Vendée Globe. The term’s origins are debated, linking it to games, local practices in Cape Verde, or the dark history of the slave trade, while also being related to the “horse latitudes” of maritime lore.
Navigating the Perils of the Pot-au-Noir
As sailors approach the Equator, they often find themselves taking varied routes; some veer away from the African coastline while others opt for a westerly path. The Vendée Globe competitors are now contemplating the daunting challenge of crossing the infamous Pot-au-Noir, a region known for its unpredictable weather patterns that complicate navigation significantly.
The Chaotic Climate of the Intertropical Zone
This vast band, stretching between the Americas and Africa, is where the northeast trade winds from the north collide with the southeast trade winds from the south. Under a foreboding sky filled with towering cumulonimbus clouds, sailors can experience fierce squalls that whip in every direction or find themselves stranded in a windless calm. The oppressive humidity and soaring temperatures only add to the discomfort. Essentially, it’s a chaotic environment—a veritable lottery that participants must navigate not once, but twice during their journey.
The constantly shifting winds, along with changes in the area’s position by a few degrees, require sailors to frequently adjust their sails while remaining vigilant for any sudden shifts in weather. This can be both mentally and physically exhausting. In the Pot-au-Noir, a sailor’s hard-won lead in the North Atlantic can evaporate swiftly, posing the risk of losing the Vendée Globe. However, emerging from this turbulent zone can also signal a turning point, as the southeast trade winds re-emerge, guiding competitors toward the Southern Highway.
The term Pot-au-Noir, as noted by maritime historian Olivier Chapuis, first appeared in the 17th century, but intriguingly, it originally had no connection to the sea. It was a cautionary term used in the game blind man’s bluff, referring to a hazardous area where a blindfolded player risked colliding with obstacles, potentially leading to a disastrous end to the game.
Another theory connects the term to an object from Cape Verde, an island nation situated slightly north of the turbulent zone. Here, Pot-au-Noir might have referred to a container used by locals for storing household waste.
Additionally, a darker narrative ties the term to the history of the slave trade. During the transportation of enslaved individuals from Africa to the Americas, particularly Brazil, slave traders would sometimes discard those they deemed unfit for labor overboard during the tranquil conditions of the Pot-au-Noir. While this theory raises eyebrows among historians, it is echoed in a similar explanation from English sources.
In Anglo-Saxon terminology, the Pot-au-Noir is synonymous with the “horse latitudes.” In the age of sail, ships carrying horses to the Caribbean often found themselves trapped in this region for extended periods. With dwindling supplies, particularly fresh water, crews were left with the grim choice of tossing the horses overboard or consuming them for sustenance.