Known to sailors around the world, the Trade Winds are the powerful prevailing winds that blow from the east across the tropics.

These dependable winds and associated ocean currents helped early sailing ships from European and African ports make their journeys to the Americas. Likewise, the Trade Winds also assisted sailing vessels on their expeditions from the Americas toward Asia.

Even now, commercial ships use "the trades" and the currents the winds produce to hasten their oceanic voyages.