 Sweltering conditions prevented their plane from becoming airborne until they dumped a large quantity of gasoline, forcing them to fly to the Cape Verde Islands instead, where cooler conditions prevailed.On 23 February, they finally made their Atlantic crossing, braving a storm and landing on the ocean near Fernando de Noronha, where the Brazilian Navy protected cruiser met them and towed them into port.The next day, after repairs necessitated by a collision with "Almirante Barroso", they flew on to the mainland of Brazil, landing at Natal to begin the South American phase of the flight.