Columbus set off from Palos de la Frontera with three ships on the evening of August 3, 1492. The Santa Mara, a carrack owned and captained by Juan de la Cosa and under Columbus’ direct command, was the largest. The Pinta and the Nia, both smaller caravels piloted by the Pinzón brothers, were the other two. Columbus sailed to the Canary Islands for the first time. He refilled supplies and conducted repairs there before departing from San Sebastián de La Gomera on September 6th for a five-week expedition across the ocean.

The team noticed “immense flocks of birds” on October 7th.