But their decision, for which he praises them indirectly, was made, he says, in the face of the ridicule of all, excepting the two priests, Marcheza and the Archbishop of Segovia.

"And everything will pass away excepting the word of God, who spoke so clearly of these lands by the voice of Isaiah in so many places, affirming that His name should be divulged to the nations from Spain." He goes on in a review of the earlier voyages, and after this preface gives his account of the voyage of 1498.
They sailed from Santa Lucca the thirtieth of May, and went down to Madeira to avoid the hostile squadron of the French who were awaiting him at Cape St.Vincent.In the history by Herrara, of another generation, this squadron is said to be Portuguese.

From Maderia, they passed to the Canary Islands, from which, with one ship and two caravels, he makes his voyage, sending the other three vessels to Hispaniola.

After making the Cape de Verde Islands, he sailed southwest.
He had very hot weather for eight days, and in the hope of finding cooler weather changed his course to the westward.
On the thirty-first of July, they made land, which proved to be the cape now known as Galeota, the southeastern cape of the island of Trinidad.
The country was as green at this season as the orchards of Valencia in March.

Passing five leagues farther on, he lands to refit his vessels and take on board wood and water.