The first squadron of Afonso de Albuquerque,…

The first squadron of Afonso de Albuquerque, after making a stop at Cape Verde, strikes out in May into the Atlantic, following the South Atlantic Gyre.

Along the way, Albuquerque comes across Ascension Island.

Although the island had already been discovered back in 1501 by the Third Armada of João da Nova (and named ilha da Conceição then), Albuquerque renames it ilha da Ascensão because of it being Ascension Day (May 21), the name that has since stuck.

Strong southwesterly winds push them towards the coast of Brazil, where Albuquerque will make a brief stop to take on water (exactly where is uncertain), before making his push across the Atlantic Ocean towards the Cape.