La Nina Replica Ship

A conversation among Whalers
Jefecinco
Posts: 1591
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:35 pm
Location: Gulf Shores, AL

La Nina Replica Ship

Postby Jefecinco » Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:11 am

Christoper Columbus' discovery voyage replica ship La Nina recently moved Westward from being beached in Pensacola, FL due to Hurricane Sally. She was being pushed by a small river towboat. Her masts were missing but she was floating level on her lines and her hull appeared to be undamaged on the port side. We toured La Nina about a month ago when it visited Orange Beach, AL and were surprised at the robust construction materials used to build her. Ships of that era were, I believe, more heavily constructed because it was necessary to beach them periodically to clean the hulls of growth and to replace any hull planks damaged by sea worms.

The most surprising feature of the ship was her diminutive size for an ocean crossing sailing vessel carrying several crew. There were no accommodations other than an open shelter aft which served as officer's quarters. We were told hammocks were not used and the crew simply slept on deck.

Hopefully she was en route to a repair yard and we will see her sailing again.
Butch