<P> Historically the particular routes were also shaped by the powerful influence of winds and currents during the age of sail . For example , from the main trading nations of Western Europe it was much easier to sail westwards after first going south of 30 N latitude and reaching the so - called `` trade winds '' ; thus arriving in the Caribbean rather than going straight west to the North American mainland . Returning from North America , it is easiest to follow the Gulf Stream in a northeasterly direction using the westerlies . A similar triangle to this , called the volta do mar was already being used by the Portuguese , before Christopher Columbus ' voyage , to sail to the Canary Islands and the Azores . Columbus simply expanded the triangle outwards , and his route became the main way for Europeans to reach , and return from , the Americas . </P>
<P> Historically the particular routes were also shaped by the powerful influence of winds and currents during the age of sail . For example , from the main trading nations of Western Europe it was much easier to sail westwards after first going south of 30 N latitude and reaching the so - called `` trade winds '' ; thus arriving in the Caribbean rather than going straight west to the North American mainland . Returning from North America , it is easiest to follow the Gulf Stream in a northeasterly direction using the westerlies . A similar triangle to this , called the volta do mar was already being used by the Portuguese , before Christopher Columbus ' voyage , to sail to the Canary Islands and the Azores . Columbus simply expanded the triangle outwards , and his route became the main way for Europeans to reach , and return from , the Americas . </P>
the middle leg of the journey from england to africa to the americas
the middle leg of the journey from england to africa to the americas
the Caribbean
the Caribbean