Topic summary
Santa Saturnina
Extracted from the Wikipedia article North West America.
Spanish naval vessel Santa Saturnina
On 4 May 1791 an exploring expedition under Francisco de Eliza, commanding San Carlos, set out from Nootka Sound, with Santa Saturnina under the command of José María Narváez (ranked segundo piloto havilitado (qualified second pilot—piloto in Spanish being equivalent to master in English). Juan Pantoja y Arriaga (primer piloto), José Antonio Verdia (segundo piloto), and Juan Carrasco (pilotín, "pilot's mate"), were also involved. Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, commandant of the Naval Department of San Blas, had instructed Eliza to explore Bucareli Bay in Alaska and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, among other places. Accordingly, the expedition sailed north from Nootka Sound, but Santa Saturnina was greatly impeded by contrary winds, so after three days Eliza decided to turn south toward Clayoquot Sound, and not explore Bucareli Bay.