The islands became an important stopping-off point for Portuguese trading fleets sailing for India and the Orient, which were often in need of emergency repairs after rounding the Cape of Good Hope.
Kepulauan tersebut menjadi titik pemberhentian penting bagi armada dagang Portugis yang berlayar menuju India dan dunia Timur, yang seringkali memerlukan perbaikan darurat setelah mengitari Tanjung Harapan.