Replicas of Columbus' Ships Tour the East Coast Ports

Controversy has always surrounded Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the new world. No matter what side of the debate you fall on there is no doubt of the 15^th century explorers' indelible mark on history in the America's.

While replicas of his great ships, The Nina, The Pinta and The Santa Maria have sailed the modern day ocean waters, these replica's left a lot to be desired. They were not necessarily true to scale, nor did modern day ship builders follow true blueprints to construct these ships. In 1986, The Columbus Foundation was formed in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. These islands were named by Columbus himself as he sailed the Caribbean Sea to the new world. The intent of The Columbus Foundation was to raise money and interest in maritime history. The 500^th anniversary of Columbus' voyage to the new world was just a few years away and the time seemed perfect for the project.

While the anniversary was greeted with protests and political controversy due to the sordid history of the Italian explorer, the foundation persevered without a political agenda. In 1988, the foundation hired John Patrick Sarsfield, an American engineer, maritime historian, and expert on Portuguese caravels, to design and construct a replica of the Niña. The Nina was known to be Columbus' favorite ship, and due to construction funds, The Nina seemed the perfect choice for the first restoration.

The project began in Brazil where the foundation was able to find ship builders who built ships according to true 15^th century craftsmanship. The Nina was built to be the first true replica with a Deck Length - 65', Beam - 18', Draft - 7', Tonnage - 75, and a Sail Area of 1919 square feet. While Sarsfield tragically lost his life in a traffic accident in early 1990 prior to the ships completion, the project had already come to the attention of Ships Of Discovery in Corpus Christi, Texas. The group of maritime archaeologists studied the replica project and proclaimed in the January 1991 publication Archaeology that "Sarsfield's Niña will likely be the most authentic replica Columbus era ship ever built."

The Nina set sail from Rio Uno in Valenca, Brazil in December of 1991, and in early 1992 was featured in the movie 1492: Conquest of Paradise, directed by Ridley Scott. The movie starred Girard Depardieu as Chistopher Columbus and Siguorney Weaver as Queen Isabella. Following the movie debut, The Nina, sailed the ocean waters just as her namesake did 500 years earlier. This time she became a floating museum that travels to ports around the world to educate people about maritime history.

In 2005,the first accurate replica of The Pinta joined The Nina on her travels and has been logging ocean miles ever since. The Pinta was also built to exacting specifications and has a Deck Length - 85', Beam - 23', Draft - 7.5' Tonnage - 101, Sail Area of a whopping, 3800 square feet. This past week, by chance, I was lucky enough to view these two ships as they sailed into Beaufort Marina. Columbus's Nina and Pinta will be in Beaufort through May 3^rd, before they set sail for Georgetown, SC. They will be docked in Georgetown for tours from May 7^th through May 16^th. See the schedule below for your opportunity to enjoy history.

For more information on tours, charters, weddings and private parties on the ships that discovered the new world call (787) 672-2152 or check out the website at www.thenina.com.

2010 Schedule

April 29 - May 3 Beaufort, SC Downtown Marina

May 7 - May 16 Georgetown, SC Harbor Walk Marina

May 25 - May 31 Philadelphia, Pa Penns Landing

June 11 - June 13 Rochester, NY Port authority

June 18 - June 20 Loraine, Ohio Port Authority

June 25 - June 27 Cheboygan, Mich City Marina at the Water St Parking Lot

July 2 - July 4 Hamond, Indiana Hammond Marina

July 9 - July 11 Peoria, Il Riverplex Landing adjacent to Spirit of Peoria