If I remember correctly, ships from Mexico could sail West due to the wind currents blowing from East to West, but could not retrace their steps.
They then had to sail North from the Philippines to catch winds blowing from West to East, where they would reach the North American continent, then sail south to Mexico ports.
I would say the Manila Galleon was probably on the correct course for home when it sank.
Exactly. People sailing to Hawaii follow that exact route today.
“I would say the Manila Galleon was probably on the correct course for home when it sank.”
The normal trade route coming back from Manila was supposed to hit the north American coast south of the point they found the timbers probably closer to what is now San Francisco Bay. So they came out north of the normal trek and we still don’t know where the ship is actually located as they discovered just timbers and not the real ship.
And with the Alaskan Current flowing south by the Oregon coast, it is unlikely the actual ship wreck was west or south of the Oregon caves they found the timbers in. Good chance it is further north like off the Washington coast. So they missed the regular trade route by a good distance, about 650 miles north at a minimum.
wy69