The

Santa Maria

Columbus was in charge of the Santa Maria and Martin Alonzo Pinzon, who was a leading mariner from the town of Moguer in Andalucisin, was charge of the Pinta.

The Santa Maria was the heaviest, bulkiest and slowest of the three ships at a massive 100 tons. The Pinta was a caravel and the fastest and most streamlined ship. The Nina was a caravel the smallest of all the ships at 50 to 60 tons. She was the best of the three ships for sailing up wind because the sails had a different arrangement to usual ships of that time. Vicente Anes Alonzo, Martin's brother, captained it. The Santa Maria had 5 sails. It was probably 18m long and was a carrack.

Instead of the East Indies they discovered the West Indies. Unfortunately the Santa Maria sank on Christmas day the same year that it set sail.

Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa in 1451.