“From Suez to Geddah, during the whole course of the year, the wind is generally north, and blows, at times, with great violence; but it abates usually at the change of the moon. During the winter months, from December to April, the south wind prevails, sometimes for a few days, and occasionally blows fresh, more particularly in the Sea of Suez, where it sometimes attains the force of a moderate gust. At this season gusts from the west are not uncommon in the Sea of Suez, and are much dreaded by the inhabitants in consequence of their violence. On the Arabian coast, near Geddah, to the south and north of that port, the north and north-west winds sometimes blow with great violence during the winter months, and bring with them clouds of dust from the land.
“The south wind, which blows sometimes from October to May, generally occasions a current of twenty or thirty miles a day. After a gust from the north-west, when there is a light breeze, there is generally a current towards the north. It is then better to beat along the Arabian side than the Egyptian, as was the practice of ancient navigators, who considered the latter coast more healthy.
“The average length of the passage from Geddah to Cosseir depends so much on circumstances, that it is impossible to assign any fixed term for it. It is, however, rarely more than twenty or less than ten days. With the boats of the country it takes from twenty-five to thirty days, and sometimes more.”
On the Winds and Currents of the Red Sea throughout the Year, by Capt. Rogers.
“From the beginning of October to the end of April, during what we may call the winter months, between the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb and Gebel Tor, in about latitude 15° 30´ north, the wind may be said to blow continually from the south, with the exception of a day or two at the time of the new or full moon, when it sometimes blows from the north. But frequently, for two months at a time, there is no change.
“From Gebel Tor to latitude 19° or 20° the winds are variable at the same period, and blow as much from the north as from the south. One or other of these winds respectively prevails as you approach one or the other of these limits.
“From 21° to 27° the north wind prevails during the same season, but half a lunation seldom passes without there being one or two days of south wind, especially from the end of November to the beginning of March.
“From 27° to Suez, the wind is, almost constantly, north, and seldom interrupted by any wind from the south, unless it be in the months of December, January, and February.
“In June, July, August, and September the north wind prevails without interruption, throughout the whole extent of the Red Sea, from Suez to Bab-el-Mandeb. Occasionally a change takes place, from the land side, principally in August and September, and during these months a fast sailer can make thirty-five miles a-day, beating from Mocha to Suez. In December, January, and February, a vessel will sometimes meet with a good wind from Mocha to Cosseir, and accomplish the run in six or seven days, whereas it is impossible to do the same from Cosseir to Mocha except in summer.”
It appears from these extracts that the Red Sea is easily navigable, at all seasons, by sailing vessels, and that it is always possible so to arrange the periods of departure as to traverse it in both directions.