New England Seabirds

This site is dedicated to the Wilson's Storm-petrel.

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Speed, Distance, and Depth At Sea
Nautical Mile | Knots | Fathoms

Measuring Distance
Distance at sea is measured in nautical miles as opposed to statute (land) miles. The international nautical mile is equal to 1/60 of one degree of the earth's circumference.

Nautical Miles Statute Miles Kilometers
1 1.151 1.852
5 5.755 9.26


Measuring Speed
Nautical speed for ships and airplanes is measured in knots. One knot is equal to one nautical mile per hour.

To make his boat sound faster, a boat owner may try to quote the speed in miles per hour to a landlubber. In comparing boats, always make sure the speed is in knots and the distance in nautical miles.

Knots Miles per hour Kilometers per hour
10 11.51 18.52
20 23.02 37.04
26 29.92 48.15


Measuring Depth
The depth of the sea is traditionally measured in units called fathoms where 1 fathom equals 6 feet or about 1.8 meters.

How Far Can A Boat Go?
In planning long pelagic trips, it is not just how fast a boat can go, but how far it can travel in the time you plan to spend at sea. They are no filling stations or convenience markets at sea. You must leave port with fuel, water and food for the entire trip.

A boat uses more fuel when traveling at high speed. The amount of fuel a boat can carry is limited by the size of the tanks. For this reason you will notice that some captains indicate a slower speed for long trips.

Currents and winds also determine the speed at which a boat can travel and the amount of fuel it uses. When planning a long trip, make sure you have a margin to account for adverse conditions. It may be wise to announce an alternate destination in the event of adverse conditions. For example, destination Hydrographers Canyon if the conditions are good, otherwise Great South Channel.