You may step again into 1492 each Saturday and Sunday via April 2nd on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Historical past has come alive on the Maritime and Seafood Business Museum’s Schooner Pier in Biloxi. A life-size reproduction of the Pinta has docked for individuals to see, scent, and contact as an important a part of the nation’s historical past. 

“We now have a duplicate of the Pinta, one of many ships Christopher Columbus used to cross the ocean on that first voyage on August third, 1492,” mentioned Captain Stephen Sanger. 

The Pinta of 1492 had the objective of opening commerce routes for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The ship, then, was barely smaller than this reproduction. 

“This ship was constructed about 15 ft longer and 6 ft wider to accommodate extra individuals,” mentioned the Captain. “It was in-built Brazil by eighth era Portuguese shipwrights utilizing the identical methods that had been used for the originals over 530 years in the past.”

Captain Sanger added that whereas some trendy lodging in know-how have been made to the Pinta for security and journey causes, a lot of the historic operate is preserved. 

“All the sails are rigged the identical approach,” mentioned Capt. Sanger. “The way in which she handles out within the open ocean is definitely the identical.”

Excursions for the Pinta are scheduled for each Saturday and Sunday via April 2nd from 9am to 4pm. Self-guided excursions and guided excursions can be found and group excursions might be arrange by emailing data@maritimemuseum.org.

The Pinta sails past Biloxi as a part of Nina and Pinta Caravels, operated by Sanger Ships LLC. Earlier than Biloxi, the ship was docked in Alabama for repairs that would not be made whereas touring. 

“We now have diesel engines on-board to have the ability to navigate the canals and rivers, round barges and waterway visitors,” mentioned Capt. Sanger. “The visitors you’d see when touring the Illinois River, the Ohio, the Tennessee, the Cumberland river.”

The Pinta has logged 25,000 miles in 12 years and is operated by the contributions of those that go to the ship and by volunteers who truly be a part of the crew, whether or not for only a port, or an extended journey to find out the place life will take them subsequent. 

“We get quite a lot of these recent out of faculty, quite a lot of retirees,” mentioned Capt. Sanger. “They journey with us about 9 months out of the 12 months. Proper now, there’s solely about three of us.” 

Because the time in Biloxi involves an in depth, the ship will want extra crew members. 

“Come April, we’ll head north, and we’ll want extra volunteers for this extra expansive journey,” mentioned the Captain. 

Crew members can be a part of for as little as two weeks at a time. They function the ship, give guided excursions, and former crusing expertise is just not required. 

For extra details about the Pinta, go to Fb or Instagram at Nina & Pinta Caravels.