Drifter Demonstration in the Atlantic
Aug 2 to Sept 2, 2025

Your own Memorial Drifter begins its journey in the northward-flowing Gulf Stream, approximately 10 miles offshore from Palm Beach, Florida. Deployment directly into the Gulf Stream ensures that cremated remains will not flow onto the relatively shallow Continental Shelf and into nearshore areas. See the final webpage on the Gulf Stream.

Drifters travel at 4-6 mph during the first week, then gradually slow to 2-4 mph as they turn northeastward in the North Atlantic Ocean. Eddies, Gulf Stream Rings and shifting currents can alter the trajectory dramatically, making each journey unique.

The map below shows hourly positions along the four-week track of a real Drifter deployed on August 2, 2025. Actual Gulf Stream current speeds are shown in color,
with red indicating the highest speeds at the sea surface.
 
This Drifter traveled north in the Gulf Stream for the first six days, turned west toward Wilmington, NC then rejoined the Gulf Stream and continued toward the northeast. After 34 days it had traveled over 1,400 miles.