Step aboard and back in time on Christopher Columbus' ship Pinta in Mississippi
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Stepping aboard is like stepping back in time.
The 85-foot ship built of wood by craftsmen is said to be about as accurate of a reproduction of Christopher Columbus' Pinta as you'll find and it's open for tours at the Schooner Pier Complex in Biloxi.
"It's built out of Brazilian hardwood nicknamed iron wood," said the ship's captain, Stephen Sanger. "It was built in Brazil by Portuguese 8th generation shipwrights.
"It took 20 men 36 months to build it. You're probably not going to find one more accurate."
The Pinta was one of three ships in Columbus' fleet when he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and discovered the New World in 1492. Touring the reproduction opens the door to what life would have been like on that journey.
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Pinta was not a ship of luxury
Sanger said the ship was a Portuguese Caravel design and was originally used for fishing and shipping trade goods. The cargo space allowed the explorers to carry everything needed for the journey and colonization.
"They would carry a year's worth of supplies not knowing how long the voyage was and return," Sanger said. "Back in the day they would have had cows, horses, sheep, chickens and goats."
What the crew didn't have was luxury. The ship only had one cabin and that was for the captain.
"Other than that, everyone was sleeping on the deck and depending what your rank was determined where you slept on the deck," Sanger said.
He explained that lower ranking crew members slept toward the bow and higher ranks slept toward the stern which offered a smoother ride and more protection.
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Pinta was not a large ship
On the tours, both guided and self-guided, guests learn much more about life on a ship in the 15th Century. Sanger said there are reproduction items throughout the ship such as tools used in sailing hundreds of years ago. On guided tours, the crew dresses in period clothing and an actor portrays Columbus.
One thing Sanger said often surprises guests is the size of the ship. He said many expect a larger ship when in fact, the original Pinta was smaller than the reproduction.
"Our Pinta is 85 feet long and 24 feet wide and sits 7 feet in the water," Sanger said. "So, it's 15 feet longer and 6 feet wider. We built it longer and wider so we could accommodate more people on board."
Other differences include a diesel engine, modern stove and running water which make life easier for the crew as it sails around the nation offering tours. Other than some modern upgrades, the ship functions the same as the original.
"I don't think there's anywhere you get a better feel for what it was like to sail with Columbus across the Atlantic Ocean," Sanger said.
Pinta reproduction quick facts
Weight: 100 tons
Mast height: 52 feet
Sails: 2,000 square feet
Length: 85 feet
Width: 24 feet
Draft: 7 feet
Average speed: 5 knots
Construction method: manual using traditional 15th Century tools
If you go
Where: Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum's Schooner Pier Complex, 367 Beach Blvd., Biloxi
Self-guided tours: Feb. 10-21 and every Saturday-Sunday through April 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, no reservations necessary
Self-guided tour prices: Adults $8, seniors 65 and over $7, students 5-16 $6
Guided group tours: Monday-Friday, Feb. 22-April 2, minimum 15 people, reservations required
Group tour reservations: ninapintatour@gmail.com
Guided group tour prices: $5 per person
Contact Brian Broom at bbroom@gannett.com or 601-961-7225.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Reproduction of Christopher Columbus ship Pinta in Mississippi
