Picture of Christopher Columbus
 

Christopher Columbus Ships

  • Interesting Facts and information about the three Christopher Columbus Ships
  • Facts and information about the three Christopher Columbus Ships
  • Facts, Timeline and History of the the three Christopher Columbus Ships
  • Major voyage of discovery and exploration on the the three Christopher Columbus Ships

Picture of Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus Ships

Famous Christopher Columbus Ships - The Ships used to discover the New World

The Three Christopher Columbus Ships - Christopher Columbus (1451 - 1506)
Christopher Columbus was an Italian who sailed under the Spanish Flag. He persevered in his quest to obtain backing for an expedition to sail a small fleet of ships to search for a sea route to the Indies.

 
 
 

In 1492 King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain finally give Christopher Columbus the money and ships for his expedition. The names of the 1497 Christopher Columbus Ships were the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

The brave men of the 1400's and 1500's, like Christopher Columbus, who sailed in uncharted waters to unknown lands were courageous adventurers who were motivated by fame, glory and the wealth. The living conditions on board the small ships were basic and the voyages were dangerous.

Christopher Columbus

 

The Three Ships of Christopher Columbus - The Nina, The Pinta, Santa Maria
The names of the Three Ships of Christopher Columbus:

  • The Nina
  • The Pinta
  • The Santa Maria

Who did Christopher Columbus name his ships for?
Who did Christopher Columbus name his ships for? His own flagship, the Santa Maria was fitted out in a place called El Puerto de Santa Maria. El Puerto de Santa Maria is located on the Guadalete River outlet, in the Bay of Cadiz. During the 16th and 17th centuries, El Puerto was the winter headquarters and base for the Royal Galleys of Spain. The Santa Maria was named after this location in Spain.

 
 

The Pinta  means the "Painted One" and was probably a nickname given to the ship. The Nina means "Girl" but was originally called the Santa Clara. Her nickname 'Nina' probably derives from her master, Juan Niño.

Facts, Information and History about the Navigational Aids on the three ships of Christopher Columbus
Facts, Information and history about Christopher Columbus Ships. Various aids to navigation were available on ships during the Renaissance. The Navigational aids that Christopher Columbus would have used on his three ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, included:

  • Astrolabes
  • Charts
  • Assorted time pieces including and hour glass and sundial
  • Compasses
  • Cross-staffs
  • Nocturnals
  • Traverse boards
  • Almanacs

All of the navigational aids used by Christopher Columbus on the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria were used to measure the angle between objects above the ocean, such as the stars or the sun, with the horizon. This would have enabled Christopher Columbus to calculate the ship's position at sea.

Facts about the three ships of Christopher Columbus
Facts, Information and history about the three Christopher Columbus Ships.

  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: Conditions on the Christopher Columbus ships would have been very basic. Food provisions would have included bread, beer, hard biscuits, fish and salted meat. The Captain would have had some private stores which might include wine
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: How fast were the ships? The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria probably covered a distance of about 100 miles per day
  • The ships carried about 120 men in total
  • There was a lack of proper sanitation
  • Large ships would have carried a surgeon or doctor
  • One of the worst health problems on board the three Christopher Columbus Ships would have been scurvy
  • Fresh livestock included pigs and chickens were part of the ships provisions
  • Meat would have been preserved by being salted
  • Cooking was done in a fire box located on decks in the bow of the ship, Cooking pots or cauldrons would be suspended from a bar
  • The seamen would sleep in cramped and damp conditions on the deck of the ships
 

 

Columbus faces Mutiny
on his Voyage of
Exploration

 
 

Facts about the Santa Maria ship

  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Santa Maria was nicknamed 'La Gallega'
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Santa Maria was the slowest of the three ships
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Santa Maria was the flagship, it was completely decked and carried the flag of Columbus as Admiral
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Santa Maria was described as a carrack or nao which was a three mast sailing ship. Each of the three masts carried one large sail 
    • The foresail and mainsail were square shaped and the sail on the rear mast was a triangular shaped sail
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Santa Maria was about 100 tons and about 80 feet in length
  • The Santa Maria ship was the property of Juan de la Cosa, a pilot and cartographer

Facts about the Nina ship

  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Nina was captained by Vicente Anes Pinzon
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Nina was described as a caravel
    • Caravels were broad-beamed ships that had 3 masts with square sails and a triangular sail
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Nina was un-decked with cabins and forecastles
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Nina was the smallest of the three ships
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Nina was about 60 tons and about 50 feet in length

Facts about the Pinta ship

  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Pinta was captained by Martín Alonso Pinzon, the brother of Vicente
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Pinta was described as a caravel
    • Caravels were broad-beamed ships that had 3 masts with square sails and a triangular sail
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Pinta was un-decked with cabins and forecastles
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Pinta was the fastest of the three ships
  • Facts about Christopher Columbus Ships: The Pinta was about 50 tons and about 45 feet in length

Famous Explorers - Christopher Columbus Ships
Some interesting facts and biography information about the History, Life & Times of Christopher Columbus Ships.
Additional details, timelines, facts, history and information about the famous European Explorers and events in the great Age of Exploration and can be accessed via the Elizabethan Era Sitemap.

 

Christopher Columbus Ships

  • Interesting Facts and information about the three Christopher Columbus Ships
  • Facts and information about the three Christopher Columbus Ships
  • Facts, Timeline and History of the the three Christopher Columbus Ships
  • Major voyage of discovery and exploration on the the three Christopher Columbus Ships
  • Important accomplishments, dates and events in the  history of the three Christopher Columbus Ships
  • Famous Renaissance Ships

 
 

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Christopher Columbus Ships

 

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