Voyage from Europe to Boston
Maximilian’s expedition began with a 48-day voyage from Europe to America. Maximilian, Bodmer, and Driedoppel departed from the Dutch port of Helvoet on the brig Janus. Always at the mercy of the weather, the sail-powered ship was frequently subjected to violent storms, then becalmed by windless days.
June 15, 1832
Little rain, but a gale. The ship is turned in a southerly direction. Wind and sea straight ahead are against us. We have had unfavorable weather like this for the entire voyage; if the wind is favorable, it is very weak; if it is contrary, it becomes a gale and causes the sea to tower up against us. Noon observation: latitude 41°46′ north, longitude 42°35′ west. We spend the whole day on our beds. During the night, little rain; wind northwest, strong. Ship’s course nearly due south.