Quote Originally Posted by Drewski View Post
An interesting point, is the generally accepted view of the re/discovery of Brazil by Pedro Cabral. He was on his way around the Cape, but sort to avoid the calms off West Africa, and catch the trade winds further west; a proven speedier method. But basically, they blew him a bit further west than he intended, and Brazil was found...
That is true, but of course, his ship was built in a manner that would enable it to quite handily withstand more than just coast hugging. Caravels were the staple of the age of exploration. On the other hand, Phoenicians were the most notorious coast-huggers there could be.

They travelled more than anyone, but were just as coast-hugging as anyone else was in their days, despite their skill. They never even had the provisions for long voyages away from land. Their ships had a construction that all but made them useless in rough water. Vikings (Norse) may have built simpler ships, but yet those ships were suited for such travel, and their only weakness was the lack of storage areas, unless they were using the knorr. But knorr was a trading/transport vessel, and not as seaworthy as their trademark longboats. Hence their Island hopping - from Iceland, to Greenland, and to Newfoundland.

I could buy the Phoenicians accidentally being marooned in Brazil, but bot coming back. Just look at the map of the currents there. They all go from Liberia to the tip of Brazil, and not vice versa. Same with the winds. You would need to cross a much wider expanse of ocean for the voyage back.