page_title: Simon de Cordes
section_title: On the Atlantic
hierarchical_section_title: Simon de Cordes / On the Atlantic
caption_attribution_description: Grand Jason 01
context_page_description: Simon de Cordes was a Dutch merchant and explorer who after the death of Admiral Jacques Mahu, became leader of an expedition with the goal to achieve the Indies, which was replaced for Chile, Peru and other kingdoms. The fleet's original mission was to sail along the west coast of South America, where they would sell their cargo for silver, gold or pearls and to head for Japan only if the first mission failed. In that case, they were supposed to obtain silver in Japan and to buy spices in the Moluccas, before heading back to Europe around Cape of Good Hope. Their goal was to sail through the Strait of Magellan to get to their destiny, which scared many sailors because of the harsh weather conditions. The first major expedition around South America was organized by a voorcompagnie, the Magelhaen Company. It organized two fleets of five and four ships with 750 sailors and soldiers to "devaluate the Spanish". It resulted in utter disaster, 80% of the men died during the journey and the investors made no profit.
context_section_description: After leaving Goeree and Brielle on 27 Juni 1598 the ships sailed to the Channel, but anchored in the Downs till mid July. When the ships approached the shores of North Africa Simon de Cordes realized he had been far too generous in the early weeks of the voyage and instituted an 'bread policy'. At the end of August they landed on Santiago, Cape Verde and on 1 September on Mayo off the coast of Africa because of a lack of water and need for fresh fruit. Near Praia they succeeded to occupy a Portuguese castle on the top of a hill, but came back without anything substantial. At Brava, Cape Verde half of the crew of the "Hope" caught fever, among them Admiral Jacques Mahu.  After his death the leadership of the expedition was taken over by Simon de Cordes, with Van Beuningen as vice admiral. Because of contrary wind the fleet was blown off course (NE in the opposite direction) and arrived at Cape Lopez, Gabon, Central Africa, early November. An outbreak of scurvy forced a landing on Annabon, on 16 December. Eighty men were sick because of fever or dysentery.  They put all the sick ashore until they were recovered and left early January.  Because of starvation the men fell into great weakness; some tried to eat leather. On 10 March 1599 they reached the Rio de la Plata, in Argentina. Early April they arrived at the Strait, 570 km long, 2 km wide at its narrowest point, with an inaccurate chart of the seabed. The wind turned out to be unfavorable and this remained so for the next four months. In August all the men went ashore. Under freezing temperatures and poor visibility they caught magellanic penguins, seals, mussels, petrels and fish. On 23 August the weather improved, after three weeks of snow and storm.
caption: Grand Jason, near Falkland Islands, is a private nature reserves owned by the Wildlife Conservation Society of New York City
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