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During the years of Henry the Navigator (to 1460) and after, Portuguese explorers had slowly stretched the boundaries of knowledge down the African coast in their attempts to find a sea route to India. By 1487 Dioblo Cao had almost reached the Tropic of Capricorn – the central coast of modern Namibia.

During the years of Henry the Navigator (to 1460) and after, Portuguese explorers had slowly stretched the boundaries of knowledge down the African coast in their attempts to find a sea route to India. By 1487 Dioblo Cao had almost reached the Tropic of Capricorn – the central coast of modern Namibia.

Diaz, commanding two caravels and a store ship, was despatched from Lisbon in 1487. He passed Cao’s point of return and battled the southerly wind and current to possibly what is now Luderitz, the only decent harbour on that inhospitable coast. There he left the store ship, and continued, finally being forced to stand out to sea to seek more favourable conditions. They instead encounted a storm which blew them south. At about 40 degrees south they found the prevailing westerly wind and headed back for the coast. After several days they turned back towards the north and found land. (Mossel Bay, South Africa.) It was 3rd. February, 1488. They had rounded the southern tip of Africa. They continued east and then northeast for a while until they reached what is now the Great Fish River. There the current was warm and from the northeast. Diaz knew that he had found the route to India.     

Diaz, commanding two caravels and a store [[ship]], was despatched from Lisbon in 1487. He passed Cao’s point of return and battled the southerly wind and current to possibly what is now Luderitz, the only decent harbour on that inhospitable coast. There he left the store ship, and continued, finally being forced to stand out to sea to seek more favourable conditions. They instead encounted a storm which blew them south. At about 40 degrees south they found the prevailing westerly wind and headed back for the coast. After several days they turned back towards the north and found land. (Mossel Bay, South Africa.) It was 3rd. February, 1488. They had rounded the southern tip of Africa. They continued east and then northeast for a while until they reached what is now the Great Fish River. There the current was warm and from the northeast. Diaz knew that he had found the route to India.     

He had a tired crew, and ships showing the wear and tear of months at sea. He consented when the crew asked to return home.  

He had a tired crew, and ships showing the wear and tear of months at sea. He consented when the crew asked to return home.