Pinta
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 10 Aug 2008 18:30
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THE PINTA
From where we are moored in Baiona we
can see the replica of The Pinta "The Painted" one of the three ships
that went with Christopher Columbus to the New World. Pinta was her
nickname as all Spanish ships were named after saints, her real name is not
known. She was a caravel-type, square rigged vessel, weighing in at approx
sixty tons, twenty metres in length, seven wide, she was smaller than the
Santa Maria (Columbus's ship). The crew of twenty six who used to sleep on
deck until hammocks were adopted after seeing Native Americans using
them.
 
  
 Outside shots, Bear on the tiller,
crew doing repairs showing off his tools (typical man) and me with my new
second mate. Below, hefty ropes, Bear with his weapon, cross bow, hard hat and
lance.
 
 The captain was Martin Alonzo Pinzon
(born circa fourteen forty one) in Palos de la Frontera, Huelva (near where Adam
and Jenny live). He was part owner of the Nina and Pinta coming from a family of
ship-owners. It was Pinzon's suggestion to Columbus to change course that
brought the fleet to the Bahamas on the twelfth of October fourteen ninety two.
He was often disobedient and did "his own thing". He went off on his own
and some scholars say he was the first to discover Puerto Rica. The lure of
treasure was also on his mind together with a few local women.
 
  
 Photos of provisions, the BBQ,
Bear with Serrano Ham (mountain ham). After the New World we see pomegranates,
tobacco, treasure, gold nuggets and a native complete with Polly.
 
  
 Bear and a saw showing the lack of
head room, how short they were then, the main sail stowed and the supply
boat replica.
After meeting up with Columbus again
for the journey home, he again separated in a storm (allegedly) and arrived in
Baiona in March fourteen ninety three. Columbus accused him of disloyalty, he
had run his ship the Santa Maria aground and had to return on the Nina, arriving
back to Palos de la Frontera also in March. Pinzon could have beaten
Columbus to the king and taken the glory but he didn't. He was awarded the
"Admiral of the Seas", returned home and died in November that same year of
Syphilis, probably TOO MANY natives.
Pinzon's brother was Vicente Yanoz
Pinzon (1460-1523), was pilot and skipper of the Nina (Spanish for girl) a pun
on one of the ships owners Juan Nina. Her real name was Santa Clara, crew twenty
four.
The fleet had left Palos de la
Frontera on the third of August 1492, stopping on the Canary Islands for
supplies on the twelfth of August, not bad timing.
Columbus was only successful due to
the Pinzon family, their expertise, experience, seamanship, and navigational
skills. They were far better sailors as illustrated in the Pinzon brothers
bringing their ships home safely where Chris did not !!!!!!.
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