Eastern Pacific High Sea

South of the Baja California Peninsula, the open Pacific approaches the waters around Cabo San Lucas. Manila galleons returning toward New Spain passed this coast after their long voyage across the ocean, drawing the attention of English privateers. In 1587 Thomas Cavendish waited near the southern cape and captured the galleon Santa Ana. The search for safe harbors for such ships later helped prompt Sebastián Vizcaíno's exploration of the California coast in 1602.