He paddled out to a rock close by Tarifa lighthouse, said to be the extreme southern point of Europe, which he touched, turned and waved an adieu to Spain.

He was then fairly launched on his journey, steering southwest in a smooth sea and calm weather.

He was in excellent spirits and fully confident of success.

The southwestern course was taken as he expected to meet the current setting eastward, which would carry him toward Malabata, the point he determined to make his port of destination.

His calculation, however, proved to be false, for the current turned out to be setting from the opposite direction and therefore gradually conveyed him toward the westward.
Shortly after 8 o'clock Paul was singing as he paddled along and came very near running into a school of porpoises.