Morten St George Theory

[Morten St. George]

Unless you can find evidence that was impossible for medieval ships to cross the Atlantic

It is most probable that the Vikings were crossing over the Atlantic more than four hundred years before Columbus.
However, they were only able to travel via the lengthy north Atlantic route (Faroes / Iceland / Greenland / Canada). This would have ruled out constant travel and commerce, and there was no reason for them to have travelled down to central / south America (a very long journey with no possible recompense).

Why could they not directly cross over from Europe to America? Firstly, political reasons - they had no base off north Africa to start the voyage (the Spanish only managed it because they had colonies in the Canary Isles to resupply the ships).

Secondly, the small ships of the time were simply unable to carry sufficient supplies to reach the coast.

Until there was a mixture of supply bases and large enough ships, it was simply impossible to use the north African Atlantic currents to sail to central America (and use the winds to get back).

A further consideration - had the Vikings, or other Europeans pre-15th century, met with American natives, they would have fought on an equal basis. It was only gunpowder, and Spanish arms forged in the Moorish conflicts, that allowed Europeans to dominate when they eventually arrived. A Viking ship coming from Greenland further south would have no defense against attack, and no real ability to obtain an economic advantage from the exploration.

I see it stated that "Just about anything that floats can cross the Atlantic."

It is reported, however, that sail-powered boats were better suited for crossing the Atlantic than oar-powered boats, i.e. the Vikings.

I searched "medieval ships" on Google images and saw some that compare favorably with what Columbus had. Looks like plenty of room for a small number of Cathars and lots of water. It took Columbus just 37 days to cross the Atlantic.

On top of Montségur mountain, the Cathars held out against an invading army of 10,000 for 10 months before succumbing. Apparently, the Cathars learned how to survive on a minimal amount of food and water.

Boat size might not be critical. In the smallest of boats, during the same epoch, the Polynesians were able to cross vast distances in the Pacific Ocean.

With the currents less favorable, getting back to the Old World would be another matter, especially if their ship had begun to decay. My original theory had the VMS returning to Europe in the late 16th century, but cow protein forces a return 200 or more years earlier.

Unlike the Spanish, who went to the New World to kill and exploit, the Cathars were a peace-loving people. They probably would have had little or no conflict with the natives in the swamps.