Columbus Voyage to America

leaving dock

Aug 3, 1492

We left the bar of Salts at eight o'clock on Friday 3 August 1492. We sailed with a strong sea breeze until sunset, S for 60 miles, which is 15 leagues, then SW and S by W, which was the route to the Canaries.

Lose rudder

Aug 7, 1492

The rudder of the caravel Pinta, in which Martn Alonso Pinzn was sailing, came adrift or became dislodged and it was believed or suspected that this was the work of one Gmez Rascn and Cristbal Quintero, the owner of the caravel, because he was annoyed at having to make the voyage; and the Admiral says that before they left they had been obstructive and always putting a spoke in, as they say.10 The Admiral was very worried at not being able to assist the Pinta without danger to himself and says t

Changing course

Sep 8, 1492

At three o'clock on Saturday morning the wind began to blow from the NE and he set his course and sailed W; he had heavy sea over the bows which made progress hard going and he made about 9 leagues that day and night.

Navigating lose

Oct 18, 1492

When the weather cleared I sailed before the wind as far as I could around the island, and anchored when I could no longer navigate; but I did not land and set sail at dawn.

heading south

Oct 26, 1492

He was S of the islands mentioned. It was shallow for 5 or 6 leagues; he anchored thereabouts. The Indians he had with him said that from those islands to Cuba was a day and a half's journey in their 'almadas' which are boats made out of a single piece of wood and without a sail. These are the canoes.70 He left there for Cuba because, from the signs that the Indians gave of its size and the gold and pearls there, he thought that that must be it, that is to say, Cipangu.