Page 160 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

7 Archaeological Researches on the Manila … 131

and Bugui Point to the right. At approximately 123.3615 East degrees longitude and
12.6429° North latitude, changed course to E by NE veering left and clearing San
Miguel Island to the right. After clearing San Miguel Island, at 123.60 East lon-
gitude, turned S by SE towards San Jacinto of Ticao. Continue going south in front
of San Fernando, at approximately 12.4702 N latitude, turned East towards the
entrance of Embocadero or San Bernardino Strait passing between Calantas reef
and the northern tip of Capul Island while turning slightly E by NE towards the
Municipality of Allen before going N by NE clearing Baricuatro Point to the right.
Continue on the Northerly direction clearing San Bernardino Island to the left and
Biri Island to the right before turning approximately 24° going East of Catanduanes
and farther north, east of Japan where the Galleons mount the Kurushio current that
would take them on an easterly track between 37° and 41° North latitude with the
westerly wind pushing them toward the coast of west of California. The whole
stretch from Cavite to Embocadero is approximately a month to navigate (Schurz
1985) (Fig. 7.1).
At the entrance of the Embocadero where currents were the primary concern of
navigators, there are tide rip currents starting north of San Andres Island in the
Naranjo Group of Islands along the San Bernardino Strait. Outgoing galleons get
clear of the San Bernardino Banks on the left on their way up climbing to the 37th
parallel. Along these routes lie some of the galleon wreck sites. Many archaeo-
logical expeditions have been conducted on this area in the past looking for the
wreck sites of the Galleons like San Andres. Santo Cristo de Burgos may have been
wrecked in the area, just outside the entrance to the Embocadero.
Espiritu Santo and San Geronimo were allegedly wrecked at the south and
southeast coasts of Catanduanes Island on their way to the east of Japan to mount
the Kurushio current. Galleons going on N by NE direction from the Embocadero
are very vulnerable to storms coming from the Paci!c, as Catanduanes lies directly
along the path of these storms, especially during the NE monsoon. The southern
part of the Island has reefs that are as shallow as 2 fathoms (3.6 m).
The galleons from Acapulco may have entered the Embocadero from the
Ladrones Islands (present day Guam) along the 12th parallel, avoiding the Wright
Shoal on left, clearing Fitzgerald Banks going west before turning south, just west
of San Bernardino Island to enter the Philippines via the route used by outgoing
galleons. An alternative route would be to clear the reefs east of San Bernardino
Strait going N by NW from the 12th parallel and south via the route used for
outgoing Galleons (Fig. 7.2).
Other galleons believed to have sunk in the vicinity of the galleon routes are
Encarnacion in Ticao Pass (Malones 1986), Nuestra Senora dela Vida, San Diego,
and San Jose.