Replica Columbus ship arrives in Eastbourne

A replica of a 15th Century ship which Christopher Columbus used on his first expedition across the Atlantic Ocean 500 years ago has docked in Eastbourne.

The 95ft (28.95m) Nao Santa Maria arrived at Sovereign Harbour on Thursday and the public will be able to tour around the ship until 28 June.

It was launched by the Nao Victoria Foundation in 2018 after 14 months of construction, and it weighs about 200 tonnes with rigging made up of 2.5 miles (4km) of rope.

"We prepare the ship for visitors to come and experience a flavour of this 15th Century ship, and discover more about the trip sailors did back in the day," said Alvaro Paniagua, one of the crew.

Paniagua said: "These sailors didn't know where they were going, they were trying to discover a new route to Asia. But they discovered a new continent.

"They really believed the world was ending and they'd find a giant waterfall."

The current crew live in the ship and are touring around the world. The next stop will be in Shoreham Port from 1 July until 12 July.

The construction of the ship involved nearly 100 professionals and combines fiberglass and wood. It also has engines but uses its sails in the open sea.

Navy veteran Ivan Jones, from Eastbourne, added: "It's so important they build these replicas so history can carry on and not be forgotten.

"To think they would cross the Atlantic, it's quite small."

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