ABSTRACT
Understanding the concept of an Atlantic gyre, a system of winds and currents, Columbus ordered the fleet to sail north to 38 degrees latitude, where he expected to find favorable winds blowing eastward. Also, that northern latitude equaled the positions of the Azores islands, a sea region he had visited earlier in his career. The voyage remained unremarkable until February 12, when the sea rose, and the winds picked up. For two days, the storm engulfed the fleet, with the Niña disappearing on the 14th. The next day, the ocean quieted, and land was sighted; it was the island of Santa Maria, the southernmost island of the Azores. Portuguese authorities held some of Columbus’s men as prisoners when the crew disembarked. After negotiations, Columbus’s crew members returned to Niña and Columbus struck out east, setting his course for Spain. Instead, he found himself off the coast of Lisbon, Portugal. Portuguese officials finally allowed Columbus to meet with King João, obtain supplies, and attend a dinner, celebrating the voyage. On March 13, Columbus left Lisbon and quickly reached Palos and home on the morning of March 15.
