He took three ships and a crew of 86 sailors. It was August of 1492 when Columbus set sail. Just how did Columbus make the journey that only a handful of Vikings had ever made before? When Columbus Sailed for the Americas But there’s one part of the story that not enough people pay attention to and that’s the ships themselves. Gone are they days when people thought Columbus thought the world was flat. The story has evolved over time to take a more realistic and practical view of the trip. com or ninapinta.Most schoolchildren learn the tale of Christopher Columbus and his historic voyage across the ocean. Where: Pinchers Crab Shack, 2360 West 1st Street, Fort Myers. What: Tours of the Columbus' replica ships the 'Nina' and the 'Pinta'. Teachers or organizations wishing to schedule a 30-minute guided tour with a crew member should call 78 or email Minimum of 15 people at $5 per person. The estates' rare book collector, Brady Vogt, has antique maritime books, maps and charts for sale and rare Columbus books for viewing. The book area is at the ticket area in the lobby of the Marina at Edison Ford. In conjunction with the visit, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates is offering riverside tickets to the estates for $10 at the marina entrance next to Pincher's. The exhibits aboard the ships explore the history of the Age of Discovery, navigation of the era, how the ships were built and a taste of what life was like over 500 years ago.

The ships tour together as a 'sailing museum' to educating the public and school children on the caravel. While living in the open during rain storms wasn't ideal, it provided fresh water for the crew.Ĭrew member and deckhand Ricki Smith, who's been with the ships for eight months, explained only the captain, officers and helmsmen were allowed in the stern castle, the only covered spot on deck. If the crew learned the navigation plans, it could easily lead to mutiny. Boney said the marina's typically have accommodations for them. In Columbus' time, the crew slept on the open deck, with animals and goods carried below. Visitors don't go below deck, with the spaced turned into modern-day crew quarters with a galley and a head, but no shower. The 'Pinta' is larger than the original and is 85 feet long and 23 feet wide with a 7-foot draft, allowing more people to tour it. The original sailed with 26 crew members. It has a 7.5-foot draft. The Columbus Foundation said the 'Nina' was Columbus' favorite ship, logging more than 25,000 miles. It matches its namesake in approximate size, 65 feet long and 18 wide. He 'Nina' was built by hand and without use of power tools. RELATED CONTENT: Whereabouts of Nina and Pinta remain a mystery Each member takes a turn pulling lines and steering the boats.īoney, a pilot, former America's Cup sailor and a chef, took a leave of absence from his job to tour with the ships. He said visitors are shocked at how small the 'Nina' is. 'It's an adventure,' said John Boney, 55, of his 35 days as a crew member and deck hand. View Gallery: Columbus ships Nina and Pinta in Fort Myers for tours The ships travel 10.5 months a year, making 30-40 stops. The Santa Maria was a 'nau', or supply ship. Columbus made four voyages totaling 12 years on caravels, which the 'Nina' and the 'Pinta' are.

The ships are owned by The Columbus Foundation, which educates the public on the Portuguese-designed caravels. 'It's great to experience these historical ships that are so amazing,' he said as he took photos. The ships will remain waterside at Pinchers Crab Shack through Tuesday and are open for tours through Tuesday. It's the first time they've been in Fort Myers, said Kevin Rooney, who helped coordinate the visit. The ships spent last week docked in Naples and the week prior in Port Charlotte. Stephen Sanger explained the third Columbus ship, the 'Santa Maria', was the biggest of the trio and had a hull of 14 feet, which wouldn't clear the waters on tour. Her sister ship the 'Pinta' pulled into the Marina at Edison Ford about 15 minutes after she did, drawing attention along the Caloosahatchee River. The replicas touched shore here more than five centuries after Columbus' three ships landed in the Bahamas in 1492.īefore he was asked, Capt. The crew of the 'Nina' fired two volleys from her cannon, announcing the caravel's arrival in Fort Myers on Wednesday. Watch Video: The Nina and Pinta replica ships arrive via the Caloosahatchee

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