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What difficulties did Vasco da Gama encounter while rounding the Cape of Good Hope?
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Vasco da Gama
Knight of the Order of Christ, detail identified as Vasco da Gama, Portuguese school, first half of the 16th century; in the National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisbon.
While attempting to round the Cape of Good Hope during his first voyage in 1497, Vasco da Gama’s fleet faced significant environmental challenges. After reaching Santa Helena Bay in early November, the expedition was delayed by unfavorable winds and adverse currents, which hindered their progress until November 22.1
These difficulties were part of a broader, arduous journey that required da Gama to undertake a long detour through the South Atlantic to avoid the challenging currents of the Gulf of Guinea.1