Local group works to restore the Niña by 2014

[image id=”9292″ title=”Niña replica in Corpus Christi” class=”size-full wp-image-23960″ width=”350″ height=”469″ ] Photographer Prentis T. (Tom) Keener Jr., captures the Niña at its dry dock in Corpus Christi. Photo from GEM IMAGES

COLUMBUS REPLICA COULD BE SEAWORTHY AGAIN SOON — The Niña could be saved and set for summer sailing — bringing a boost for both boat enthusiasts and tourism in the Coastal Bend!

One of three replica ships given to Corpus Christi 20 years ago by Spain, the Niña has been dry-docked in disrepair at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. The other two historic reproductions, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, are too far gone to be restored says the Columbia Sailing Association, a group formed three years ago to raise money and oversee the work. The ships were built to commemorate the 500th anniversary of when Christopher Columbus landed on America’s shores.

What to do with the two ships is under discussion, but for now the group is raising money for one by selling pieces of the other two. Part of the ballast from the Santa Maria brought in $8,800, which the city council recently moved into the association’s bank account. The ballast was sold to the Port of Corpus Christi to balance a dredging crane. Other salvaged materials could be used to help restore the Niña.

Now docked on the Lawrence Street T-Head, the Niña, along with her sister ships, were once exhibits at the Museum of Science and History. When they were sea worthy in the early 1990s, they toured European ports and 18 U.S. cities. In 1994, a  barge in Corpus Christi Bay crashed into them, resulting in extensive damage. Estimates for repairing all three exceed the cost of rebuilding them from scratch, says a report prepared by the company that operates the museum.

Options on the table include demolishing the Santa Maria and the Pinta. Meanwhile, volunteers have devoted their weekends for three years now to restore the Niña. They have rebuilt the upper deck, a portion of the main deck and repaired railings. The ship still needs extensive work on the foredeck and foremasts. They must also install an engine, which was certainly not part of the original ship, but a modern-day necessity!

Spain built the ships at a cost of $6.5 million. Materials were as close to those of 15th century shipbuilders as possible, including pine and oak from the same forests. Nails were forged by hand; hemp was used for  the caulking and linen sails.