Magellan's boats were caravels. Hard to sail, and very uncomfortable, they were not like modern ships.
Making the journey even more difficult, the crew dealt with very bad Atlantic weather. Paul Rose, who made the journey in a modern replica of a Magellan caravel, observes: "It must have felt as though the storms were never going to end."
St. Elmo's Fire appeared to Magellan and his crew. Because this phenomenon usually appears at the end of a storm, the men were convinced they had witnessed divine intervention.
Sailing on the eastern side of South America, Magellan's expedition made landfall at a place later known as Rio de Janeiro. Soon after, they reached the edge of the known world.
As far down the coast of South America as any westerner had ever been, Magellan was looking for a passage to the "South Sea." Thinking he was in the right spot, he sailed into the River Plate estuary. It was a disaster, causing a three-month delay.
Determined to keep sailing, Magellan still believed he would find a passageway, linking the Atlantic to the as-yet-unnamed Pacific. Many of his men disagreed the enormous effort was worth it. Cold, hungry and no longer believing in their captain, some of the men started a mutiny.
See, also:
Magellan and his Voyage of Discovery - Part 1
Magellan and his Voyage of Discovery - Part 3
Magellan and his Voyage of Discovery - Part 4
Magellan and his Voyage of Discovery - Part 5
Credits
Clip from "Voyages of Discovery: Circumnavigation," produced for the BBC.
Paul Rose (former ten-year base commander of the British Rothera research station in Antarctica) presents the unimaginable story of Ferdinand Magellan and his crew (as they
attempt to find a westward passage to the Spice Islands), in "Voyages
of Discovery - Circumnavigation."
Directed by Sean Smith; written by Chris Bould.
Clip online, courtesy BBC. Copyright, BBC, all rights reserved. Clip provided here as fair use for educational purposes.
