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The Santa Maria is a historic ship that is famous for its role in Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the Americas in 1492. It was one of three ships that set sail from Spain on August 3rd of that year, with the goal of finding a new route to Asia. The Santa Maria was the largest of the three ships, measuring around 117 feet in length and weighing approximately 100 tons. It was a carrack, a type of sailing vessel that was popular during the Age of Discovery.
On October 12th 1492 Cristopher Columbus, in the service of Spain, set the Spanish flag on an island of an unknown world to Europe. This extraordinary adventure was due to the strong perseverance of a foreign man haunted by the conviction that the Atlantic Ocean was but a sea, narrow enough to be sailed in a few days.
La Santa María (The Saint Mary), alternatively La Gallega, was the largest of the three Spanish ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, the others being the Niña and the Pinta. Her master and owner was Juan de la Cosa, a man from Santoña, Cantabria, operating in south Spanish waters. Requisitioned by order of Queen Isabella and by contract with Christopher Columbus, whom de la Cosa knew previously, the Santa María became Columbus’s flagship on the voyage as long as it was afloat. Having gone aground on Christmas Day, 1492, on the shores of Haiti, through inexperience of the helmsman, it was partially dismantled to obtain timbers for Fort Navidad, “Christmas Fort,” placed in a native Taíno village. The fort was the first Spanish settlement in the New World, which Columbus had claimed for Spain. He thus regarded the wreck as providential. The hull remained where it was, the subject of much modern wreck-hunting without successful conclusion.
Amati’s Santa Maria 1:65 Scale Kit includes all wooden and metal accessories and fittings; flags and sails; laser cut keel and frames; detailed instructions and construction plans, fiftings, steel photoetched details and brass parts.
Scale 1:65
Length 21.3″
The Santa Maria was built in 1480 in Galicia, Spain, and was originally named La Gallega. It was owned by Juan de la Cosa, a well-known Spanish navigator and cartographer. When Columbus was seeking funding for his voyage, he turned to de la Cosa, who agreed to lend him the Santa Maria for the expedition. Columbus renamed the ship Santa Maria, in honor of the Virgin Mary, and it became the flagship of the voyage.
The Santa Maria was a three-masted ship with a square rig and a single deck. It had a high forecastle, or raised platform at the front of the ship, which was used for lookout purposes. The ship also had a round stern, which was a common feature of Spanish ships at the time. The hull of the Santa Maria was made of oak and was reinforced with iron plates, making it a sturdy and durable vessel to withstand the long journey.
The ship was equipped with all the necessary supplies for the voyage, including food, water, weapons, and navigation tools. It also carried livestock such as pigs, chickens, and cows, to provide fresh meat during the voyage. The crew consisted of around 40 men, including sailors, soldiers, and officers. Among them was the famous navigator and explorer, Amerigo Vespucci, who would later go on to have his own explorations in the New World.
The journey of the Santa Maria was not without its challenges. The ship faced strong winds, rough seas, and even a near-collision with a reef. On October 12th, 1492, after 36 days at sea, the crew finally spotted land, which would later be known as the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas. This marked the beginning of the European colonization of the Americas.
Unfortunately, the Santa Maria’s journey was cut short when it ran aground on a reef in Haiti on Christmas Day of 1492. Columbus and his crew were able to salvage some of the ship’s timbers and build a fort with them, which they named La Navidad. The remaining crew sailed back to Spain on the other two ships, the Niña and the Pinta.
Today, the Santa Maria remains a symbol of exploration and discovery. It has been depicted in numerous paintings, sculptures, and films, and is a popular attraction at museums and historical sites around the world. The ship’s legacy continues to inspire and fascinate people, serving as a reminder of the brave and daring spirit of the Age of Discovery.
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