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b'Lope Mart\\xedn was a little-known 16th century Afro-Portugese pilot known as the "Columbus of the Pacific"--who against all odds finished the final great voyage of the Age of Discovery. He raced ahead of Portugal\\u2019s top navigators in the notoriously challenging journey from the New World to Asia and back, only to be sentenced to hanging upon his return, while a white Augustine monk achieved all the glory.

It began with a secret mission, no expenses spared. Spain, plotting to break Portugal\\u2019s monopoly trade with Asia, set sail from a hidden Mexican port to cross the Pacific\\u2014and then, critically, to attempt the never before-accomplished return: the vuelta. Four ships set out, each carrying a dream team of navigators. The smallest ship, guided by Lope, a mulatto who had risen through the ranks to become one of the most qualified pilots of the era, soon pulled far ahead and became mysteriously lost from the fleet.

It was the beginning of a voyage of epic scope, featuring mutiny, murderous encounters, astonishing physical hardships\\u2014and at last a triumphant return. But the pilot of the fleet\\u2019s flagship, an Augustine friar, later caught up with Mart\\xedn to achieve the vuelta as well. It was he who now basked in glory, while Lope Mart\\xedn was secretly sentenced to be hanged by the Spanish crown as repayment for his services.

To look at this forgotten story is Andres Resendez, author of the new book Conquering the Pacific: An Unknown Mariner and the Final Great Voyage of the Age of Discovery'