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II. COASTAL EXPLORATION (continued)

D. SEBASTÍAN RODRÍGUEZ CERMENÕ RECONNOITERS the HUMBOLDT COAST

The loss of ships to the English Seadogs, such as Francis Drake and Thomas Cavendish, made Spain cognizant of the need for a harbor on the California coast to serve as a port of refuge for the Manila Galleons. Until 1595 no captain in the employment of Spain attempted to locate such a harbor. The Spanish crown in that year charged Sebastían Rodríguez Cermenõ with such a mission. He left Manila in July and reached the California mainland at "Cape Mendocino" on November 4. Professor H. R. Wagner holds that Cermenõ reached the coast north of "Rocky Point" or Trinidad Head, then sailed south, passing in and out of Trinidad Bay, but did not anchor for fear of rocks. Proceeding down the coast, Cermenõ took his ship into Drake's Bay, where she went aground. Cermenõ and his shipmates used a launch to reach Acapulco. [8]

Cermenõ's voyage satisfied the authorities that a galleon could not effectively reconnoiter the coast. The Council of the Indies accordingly recommended that future expeditions be made in light-draft vessels. Determined to follow the suggestion of the Council, Viceroy Castillo of New Spain in 1603 sent out an expedition led by Sebastian Vizcaíno. [9]


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Last Updated: 15-Jan-2004