The fleet crossed the Equator on 9 April, and sailed westward as far as possible from the African continent in what was known as the volta do mar (literally "turn of the sea") navigational technique.
Armada Cabral melintasi Ekuator pada tanggal 9 April, dan berlayar ke arah barat sejauh mungkin dari Benua Afrika dengan menggunakan teknik navigasi yang dikenal sebagai volta do mar (secara harfiah "pemutaran laut").