The story of the discovery of America through the Nao Santa María

In the year 1492, the explorer Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain leading an expedition aimed at confirming the theory that the Earth was not flat. After two months of navigation, Columbus, aboard the nao Santa María and accompanied by the caravels “Pinta” and “Niña,” discovered America.

Today, more than 500 years later, thanks to the Nao Victoria Foundation, this event, which is part of our country's history, comes to life through the construction of a replica of the ship commanded by Christopher Columbus.

The team from Pasión por el Mar went to the docks of the Club de Mar to learn, from first officer Regino Hernanz and bridge trainee Pablo Campos, why the organization was founded and what it's like to sail a replica of a 15th-century ship.

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“The Nao Victoria Foundation arose from a group passionate about history, nautical culture, and navigation, who decided to build the most faithful replica possible of the Nao Victoria, which sailed around the world,” explains the first officer, recalling an anecdote that took place during the launch of the ship in Seville during Expo '92. “That launch was full of controversy because there wasn’t enough depth to launch a ship.”

Despite this setback, the construction of the replica was a complete success. “Her voyage created such a stir that everyone wanted to see her, get on board, visit, and learn her story,” Hernanz acknowledges. And for that reason, with the goal of bringing maritime history closer to the public, the Nao Victoria Foundation has continued building replicas of historic ships.

The organization currently operates five vessels: the Nao Victoria 500, which is identical to the Nao Victoria but does not sail and is permanently moored in Seville; the original Nao Victoria, their first ship, a replica of the vessel in which Juan Sebastián Elcano completed the first circumnavigation of the globe; the Nao Santa María, representing the ship in which Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492; the Galeón Andalucía, which emulates the ship that ran the commercial route from Manila to Acapulco across the Pacific; and finally, the only vessel that is not a replica but an original—the Pascual Flores, built in 1917.

These ships travel around the world throughout the year, stopping in Spanish, European, and international ports “because we want to spread a bit of this country’s great history,” says Hernanz. “We bring nautical history to the streets, to the ports,” explains Pablo Campos, bridge trainee.

Indeed, the ships carry a crew made up of professionals, students, and volunteers. “These ships are both training vessels and museums. Some of the crew are students and volunteers who don’t mind setting everything else aside to live a unique experience,” says the first officer.

The Nao Santa María has between 12 and 18 crew members. Some, like Pablo, are completing their studies. “It’s a great place to complete long-distance skipper training,” he says, adding, “the sailing is a lot of fun because we work in three watches—sailing four hours, resting eight, being with teammates, learning a lot.” Even though his role is as a bridge trainee, the crew works together as a team to reach port safely. “We all do a bit of everything. We cook on board—and I had never cooked for 15 or 18 people before—so I’ve learned that too. And when we’re doing maintenance, if someone has never used sandpaper, they learn how to sand,” he explains, noting that their work doesn’t end when they dock. “When we arrive in port, we help the foundation with the museum side, explaining the ship’s journey and history to visitors.”

Just like they are doing now at the Club de Mar docks, where until April 20, visitors can come aboard the replica of the Nao Santa María and get a close look at how the sailors lived during the voyage of America’s discovery. “Visitors will find a piece of history and get a small sense of how difficult life was on this type of ship,” says first officer Regino Hernanz, who points out that one of the most important areas on the ship was Christopher Columbus’s cabin. “This was a very protected area because they had to safeguard something vital—and it wasn’t gold or silver—but rather the cartography and everything noted in the logbook to maintain control of the seas.”