Tourists and locals from northwest Tennessee, western Kentucky and southern Indiana will soon and once again have a chance to walk the deck of the “Pinta” — a “floating museum” that’s nearly an inch-for-inch replica of the Portuguese caravel used by explorer Christopher Columbus.
From April 28 through May 1, the popular wooden ship will be docked at Paris Landing State Park Marina in Buchanan, Tennessee.
Then, from May 5-15, it will make a lengthy stop at Green Turtle Bay Marina in Grand Rivers.
And finally, from May 18-22, the crew will make their way to the Nu Plaza Yacht Club in Evansville before voyaging elsewhere.
Following three years of construction, the “Pinta” was launched from Brazil, South America in 2005. It was built by eighth-generation Portuguese shipwrights, who used the same methods and hand tools used to build the original 15th century artifact.
Alongside the “Nina” and “Santa Maria,” the “Pinta” was the first to sight the lands of San Salvador and the West Indies under the leadership and navigation of Columbus.
Many historians consider the “caravel” the “space shuttle” of the 15th century, because it was used as early as the 13th century and well into the 16th century as a major shipping and exploration vessel along oceanic tradewinds. It had been used mostly as a trading vessel along the Mediterranean and African coasts before being commissioned in a number of Transatlantic voyages.
Open to the public from 9 AM until 5 PM each day in dock, no reservations are required. Tickets are purchased at the ship, and are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and the military, $6 for children aged 5 to 16, and free for 4 and under.
Any teachers and/or organizations wishing to schedule a 30-minute guided tour with a crew member during weekdays should go to ninapinta.org/tour/html. Group tours require a minimum of 15 people. All other inquiries should be directed by email to ninapintatour@gmail.com, or by phone at (251) 293-4193.
According to Courtney Ingle of the Magnolia Tribune, the “Pinta” has spent this week docked in Biloxi, Mississippi. Captain Stephen Sanger told Ingle that this replica is about 15 feet longer and six feet wider to “accommodate more people,” and does have a few modern advances in order to assist with safe travel in national, regional and local waters.
