I am normally a spectator, but I had to come out and say, kudos to Roman Zaenom, on a most impressive timeline, it must have taken a lot of research. Even with the events all laid out, I still had trouble finding them (until I noticed the page references ). While I couldn't find any material flaws, I thought should raise a few points which didn't seem to be mentioned; if they were, they weren't answered. First, I must say that like theinvisibleworm, and others, I feel that the Straw-hats should have spent considerably more than just two months sailing. However, most of my reasons for this have already been addressed here. Forgive me if I seem to be slightly anal-retentive.
One nagging issue that continues to bug me is the sheer impossibility of a caravel-class ship like the Going Merry making a trip essentially equivalent to half the breadth of the globe (in total) in just one or two months. The three ships in which Columbus sailed from Spain to San Salvador were all caravels and it took him over two months (Aug. 3, 1492 to Oct. 12, 1492, I believe). That alone would seem to make the brevity of the journey ridiculous-though his navigators were clearly not as skillful as Nami.:biggrin: Even by the turn of the nineteenth century, the courier ships of the British Royal Navy-arguably the greatest in its contemporary world-still required five weeks to cross the Atlantic. However, on the premise of myself not knowing the relative size of Oda's world as compared to our own, I am more than willing to concede this point. The timeline has the journey's duration from Little Garden through Skypiea set at twenty days. Unfortunately, I don't have access to the raws-not that it would help much, as my Japanese is very limited-so I will have to rely on scanlations. However, I noticed several discrepancies. The first is during the trip from Little Garden to Drum Island. It does say that one day passed in chapter 130 (page 18), but it appears to be referring to the time after they switched course away from Arabasta: "So, the ship has changed its plans to go to Albasta, but finding a doctor first. One day has passed." In chapter 139 (page 12), Kureha also says, "I guess this is the third day after you were bitten." Perhaps it is just my scanlations, but it seems to me that it should have taken three days, not two.
Beyond that, the only real problem I see deals with the issue of "time skips" between the islands. As was pointed out, these are essentially covered in entirety, but some are not necessarily set in stone. Though it is not included in the timeline, one such example is from Skypiea to Longring Longland. While both sets of Sea Monkeys (chapters 303, 304) do appear to be the same, this doesn't mean it all took place in one day. It seems logical enough that large creatures like them should have large territories as well. It then follows that the Straw-hats might have stopped at another island along the way for an indeterminable amount of time-probably no more than a few days, but I think my point is clear. It never says that they went directly from Skypiea to Longring Longland (if my memory serves), but even if so, that still does not demand a single day's passage. In addition, though it shows him leave-the discovery of his absence, that is-it never actually says when Aokiji left. Therefore, it seems quite possible that he might have left a good while before the Straw-hats returned from Skypiea. After all, it would make sense for the Marine HQ to have information regarding log pose routes, and it is a fairly safe bet that in the five odd days from the Straw-hats' departure, news of their presence reached official channels-if Aokiji left after they reached Jaya. Judging from what he said about confirming Robin's location, assuming he predicted their route, Aokiji could have left HQ as early as Crocodile's arrest.
The other "gap" occurs after Arabasta (chapter 218, page 12). It does show the galleon fall just three frames after the conversation about Robin joining ends and they are all wearing the same clothes (which isn't exactly the best criteria in anime or manga-i.e. Luffy does not change his outfit once, except in the Arabasta desert, until the crew is aboard the Rocketman and heading towards Enies Lobby, I believe). However, there is plenty of room for liberality; we never even find out which island the "Autumn Island" in Arabasta's records was, as their log pose locks onto Skypiea and then they use Robin's eternal pose to go to Jaya.
I realize that the timeline given refers only to the portion of the story from Little Garden to the end of the Skypiea arc; however, as long as I am at it, I thought I should mention the voyage prior to the Grand Line. There are very few places were the actual passage of time is discussed-none before Yosaku and Johnny join. It was mentioned in one of the two threads that the two showed up right as Usopp was finishing the flag. However, we are never told how long after Syrup Village the flag is painted, nor do we know how long it is after the flag is painted that Luffy and Usopp fire the cannon that hits the rock where Yosaku is resting. Furthermore, the only thing that we learn from them is that it should take about two or three days to reach Baratie from where the Straw-hats met Yosaku and Johnny. Though the duration is probably a fair amount longer, just four days per island, with one spent ashore, puts the pre-Grand Line journey at a minimum of roughly one month. Of course, there is also the likely loss of time suffered from Luffy and Zoro's ridiculous sense of direction.
For the most part, I agree that the Straw-hats' journey has been considerably shorter than it might seem. However, rather than: "It's maximum 20 days for all that [,]" the only we can say based on empirical evidence is that 'It's at least 20 days for all that.' With the seven days from Longring Longland to Water 7, and the three days until the Straw-hats reach Enies Lobby, that puts the time spent in the Grand Line at a minimum of one month. With the month-more likely a month and a half due to poor directions early on-from before the Grand Line, that is a minimum voyage time of two to two-and-a-half months. With the allowance of possible "time skips" it is easily three to four months. However, even if all of the possibilities are exploited (both before and in the Grand Line), I still can't, within reason, see the voyage being more than four months-five at most (I always thought it was more like one year, perhaps eighteen months).:sad: So, yeah, I guess that ends my rant. Sorry about the length, I couldn't sleep and I'm always for One Piece research.:laugh: If I missed something (and I very well may have) please educate me; I always appreciate good constructive criticism. If you sat through this entire thing:bang:, you may go back to your daily business. For those as bored as me, I now present, for your viewing pleasure, a turtle:
:party:
edit:
Sorry about the size, is that better?