Nina

• The Santa Maria was a "Nao" or full ship. The Nina (shown here) and the Pinta were "caravels". These were smaller and narrower than a Nao and had much less superstructure. All of this allowed them to sail faster and closer to the wind.

• The Nina and Pinta were around 2/3 the size of the Santa Maria. This seems small, but Columbus's three ships had a total cargo capacity greater than the three ships that brought the first colonists to Jamestown in 1607.

• Neither caravel had a cabin. Since the fleet could go faster than the slowest ship, Columbus took the most comfortable quarters in the cabin of the Santa Maria.

The reproduction of the Nina shown here was built in South America using techniques handed down from the 16th century.

• Parts of the Santa Maria

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