His own account of the great voyage begins with the words: "Friday, August 3, 1492.

Set sail from the bar of Saltes at 8 o'clock, and proceeded with a strong breeze till sunset sixty miles, or fifteen leagues south, afterward southwest and south by west, which is in the direction of the Canaries." It appears, therefore, that the great voyage, the most important and successful ever made, began on Friday, the day which is said to be so much disliked by sailors.

Columbus never alludes to this superstition.
He had always meant to sail first for the Canaries, which were the most western land then known in the latitude of his voyage.

From Lisbon to the famous city of "Quisay," or "Quinsay," in Asia, Toscanelli, his learned correspondent, supposed the distance to be less than one thousand leagues westward.

From the Canary islands, on that supposition, the distance would be ten degrees less.