Norse explorers probably sail in Newfoundland waters as early as 986, when Bjarni Herjolfsson, blown off course from Greenland, makes a chance sighting of land to the west.

The Grœnlendinga saga ('Greenlanders Saga') relates that one year he sailed to Iceland to visit his parents as usual, only to find that his father had gone with Eric the Red to Greenland, so he took his crew and set off to find him.

But in this summer of 986, Bjarni, who has no map or compass, is blown off course by a storm.

He sees a piece of land that is not Greenland.

It is covered with trees and mountains and although his crew begs him to stop and look around, he refuses.

Since no one in his crew has been to Greenland before, they have to search for it.

Although he manages to regain his course, he reports seeing low-lying hills covered with forests some distance farther to the west.

The land looks hospitable, but Bjarni is eager to reach Greenland to see his parents and does not land and explore the new lands.

Eventually arriving in Greenland, he decides to settle with his father.

He reports his findings in Greenland but no one seems to have shown interest in them until, after his father's death, he returns to Norway.