Scholars had always been very sceptical about the reality of Amerigo Vespucci’s first voyage, which is said to have taken place in 1499. An account of Vespucci’s initial expedition to the American continent was published in 1504. However, scholars considered this account a forgery.
In 1499, Vespucci joined an expedition in the service of Spain. Alonso de Ojeda was the fleet commander. Their intention was to sail around the southern end of the African mainland into the Indian Ocean. The two took different routes from the coast of what is now Guyana.
Vespucci sailed southwards, discovering the mouth of the Amazon River. From there, he took a turn, and sailed through Orinoco River, and then made for Haiti. Vespucci thought he had sailed along the coast of the extreme easterly peninsula of Asia. Vespucci called the tip of this peninsula Cape of Cattigara.
Vespucci is often credited with many findings. He determined the longitude celestially on August 23rd, 1499, while on this voyage.