Fig. 39.—Sail-plan of the Santa Maria.
Fortunately, we have a fairly exact knowledge of the form and dimensions of the caravel Santa Maria, which was the largest of the three vessels. She was reconstructed in 1892-93 at the arsenal of Carraca, by Spanish workmen, under the superintendence of Señor Leopold Wilke, for the Chicago Exhibition of 1893. Señor Wilke had access to every known source of information. Figs. 38 to 40 give a general view, sail-plan and lines, of this ship as reconstructed.
The following were her leading dimensions:—
| Length of keel | 60·68 feet |
| Length between perpendiculars | 74·12 " |
| Extreme length of ship proper | 93 " |
| Length over all | 128·25 " |
| Breadth, extreme | 25·71 " |
| Displacement fully laden | 233 tons |
| Weight of hull | 90·5 " |
The Santa Maria, like most vessels of her time, was provided with an extensive forecastle, which overhung the stem nearly 12 ft. She had also an enormous structure aft, consisting of half and quarter decks above the main deck. She had three masts and a bowsprit. The latter and the fore and main masts were square-rigged, and the mizzen was lateen-rigged. The outside of the hull was strengthened with vertical and longitudinal timber beams.
The Santa Maria, as reproduced, was sailed across the Atlantic from Spain by Captain D. V. Concas and a Spanish crew in the year 1893. The course taken was exactly the same as that followed by Columbus on his first voyage. The time occupied was thirty-six days, and the maximum speed attained was about 6½ knots. The vessel pitched horribly.