São Vincente Wreck
The São Vincente was part of the first Portuguese attempt to reach and explore Madagascar. The ship left Lisbon on March 6th, 1506, with 13 other merchant vessels and warships. The fleet was scattered by a great storm at the Cape of Good Hope. After a brief stop in Mozambique the São Vincente left to reach the west coast of Madagascar. It sank at night after running aground on rocks at Courrier Bay. 14 men survived but were able to return to Mozambique.
The Portuguese were at the time pioneers of seafaring and they were the first to reach the southern tip of Africa. They also opened a maritime route towards Asian spice and exotic goods markets. Madagascar was discovered when a Portuguese explorer, Diogo Dias, was diverted there by a storm in May, 1500. A large number of Portuguese shipwrecks now lie in Madagascar’s waters.
