Source: Leighly, J. (ed) (1963) The Physical Geography of the Sea and its Meteorology by Matthew Fontaine Maury, 8th Edition, Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press. Cited by Knowles, R.D. (2006) “Transport shaping space: the differential collapse of time/space”, Journal of Transport Geography, 14(6), pp. 407-425.
The navigator Matthew Fontaine Maury collected an extensive array of ship logs between 1842 and 1861, enabling him to chart prevailing winds and sea currents, as well as their seasonal variations. While mariners were well aware of specific regional conditions, such as the Gulf Stream, Maury was the first to comprehensively catalog oceanographic conditions globally. Much of this information appeared in “The Physical Geography of the Sea”, published in 1855, considered the first significant oceanography textbook. Such knowledge enabled shorter sailing times, especially over long distances. For instance, a journey from New York to Rio de Janeiro was reduced by 32 days, not through any technical improvements to the ship, but simply by taking better advantage of prevailing winds and sea currents.
Maury also demonstrated that the longer eastbound route around Cape Horn, from Australia to Europe or North America, was faster than the shorter westbound route around the Cape of Good Hope. The outcome was the creation of relatively well-defined navigation routes that followed dominant wind patterns. It represented a near-optimal use of sailing routes, which would remain in use until replaced by steamships in the late 19th century.