From Cape Roxo, Elcano’s exhausted crew diverted to the Portuguese Cape Verde Islands, disguising themselves as a storm-damaged fleet returning from the Americas. Their deception initially succeeded, yielding provisions, but disaster struck when 13 men sent ashore were arrested after their ruse was uncovered. Outnumbered, the Victoria fled, leaving the captives behind. With only a skeleton crew left to man the leaking ship, survival required relentless pumping while enduring meagre rations. After nearly three months of hardship, they sighted Sanlúcar de Barrameda on September 8th, 1522. A local pilot and longboat towed the battered Victoria upriver to Seville, completing the circumnavigation. From the 265 men who had departed three years earlier, just seven per cent were left.