A measure born of the Earth
The nautical mile is the way distances are measured at sea. It equals 1,852 metres, a little more than a kilometre and a half.
Its origin is a lovely one. The measure rests on the round shape of the planet itself. If you divide a full trip around the Earth into very small pieces, each of those pieces is a nautical mile. That is why it fits so well with navigation charts and with the position of the stars.
The knot is also born from the nautical mile. A knot is simply covering one nautical mile in one hour. Distance and speed are thus tied together by the same measure.
The distances of our outings
At Picarus we do not sail long distances. We leave the Los Gigantes marina and move along the south-western coast of Tenerife, close to the cliffs.
This means the miles we cover are few. It is not about reaching far. It is about finding the right spot, easing off and letting the sea show us whatever it has that day.
We sail through the Teno-Rasca Marine Strip, a protected area within the Natura 2000 Network. Every mile we make through those waters we make with respect, in small groups and at a calm pace.
To give you an idea
A kilometre and a half takes about twenty minutes to walk. A nautical mile is barely a little more than that.
When you are on board and hear talk of miles, think of short, nearby distances. We are not going to cross the ocean. We are going to share a spell of sea in front of one of the island’s most striking coasts, in no hurry to press on.
