by Kristina Gabalski
La Pinta follows La Nina as they leave the Port of Rocheser at the end of the Genesee River last July.It was an opportunity Angelo Bianchi of Hilton couldn’t pass up – volunteering to join the crew of the 15th century replica caravel, LaPinta – one of the three ships in Christopher Columbus’ fleet on his voyage of discovery to the New World in 1492.
Angelo had taken his grandchildren to see the ship while it was in the Port of Rochester and while on board, Angelo’s wife spotted a sign regarding the volunteer opportunity. He applied and the rest really is history.
Angelo made the four-day trip aboard the Pinta from Rochester to Wyandotte, Michigan near Detroit July 2-5, 2012. The Pinta traveled with La Niña, another replica of one of Columbus’ ships.
Angelo is well acquainted with Spain and its history. He is a former Spanish teacher at Gates Chili and was stationed in Spain for four years while with the U.S. Navy, so the opportunity to join the crew was his chance “to see in some small way, what those early Spanish mariners experienced,” he says.
“This ship is steered by a hand tiller,” Angelo writes in his journal. “The helm wheel was not yet invented in 1492. I can’t imagine steering by hand across the oceans back then.”
The Pinta replica was launched in 2005 by the Columbus Foundation to accompany La Niña on tour. The ships are a touring maritime museum for educating the public and school children about the ships Columbus sailed.
The Pinta was constructed in Brazil by master shipbuilders who used 15th century techniques of design and construction. Although the ships are authentic reproductions, they have modern amenities like power, modern berthing facilities, navigational electronics, radio communication, food preparation and preservation and diesel engines.
Angelo Bianchi aboard La Pinta.Weather-wise, Angelo says, “we had three glorious days (and then) we were hit by massive storms on the western end of Lake Erie.”
Angelo handled the steering through one round of storms. “I couldn’t see past my arm,” he says. He used his compass to stay on course through high winds and heavy rain.
Despite the challenge, the 70-year old Angelo writes in his journal, “I find myself enjoying and savoring the craziness. … I’m fortunate to have experienced it. … I feel like a compadre to those antiguos marineros.”
Traveling through the Welland Canal between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie was another memorable experience. There are a series of eight locks and customs and boat inspection by Canadian officials to go through. According to Angelo, the complete passage can take eleven hours.
During the inspection, the Pinta crew had to remove the outboard motor from the dinghy – which was no easy task, Angelo says. The mounting bolts were stainless steel, but the nuts were not and were rusted.
He writes in his journal about the procedure of passing through a lock: “….. enter lock, workers drop lines to which we attach our hawsers (strong, thick ropes) which they then lift up (about 50 feet) and secure. The lock gates then close, water enters and as the level rises, we keep the lines taut and the ship properly aligned. We get to the top, the forward gates open and away we go.”
La Nina ahead of LaPinta on Lake Ontario.The experience gave him an appreciation of the skills necessary to make a 15th century sailing ship run smoothly and safely, Angelo says.
“I give those guys credit, I have a greater appreciation of their efforts. … I bonded with them across time,” he says. “They came and braved the unknown and overcame their fears. They were tough folks from the southern section of Spain (Huelva, Andalucia, Extremadura).”
Once the Pinta docked in Michigan, Angelo rented a car for the road trip home with other local volunteers. He says he would jump at the chance to do it all again.
His journal concludes: “All Spaniards are justifiably tremendously proud of this monumental achievement (the discovery and settlement of the New World). I also feel proud, not that I accomplished any great feat, but that I was able to share, if only in a minuscule way, their experience and be one with them.”
To find out more about the replica Niña and Pinta go to www.thenina.com.
