<em>Photo above: A crewman leans over the side of small boat to apply a stain to the hull of the Nina which helps keep corrosive salt water out. Photos by Bob Sofaly.</em>

The Pinta and the Nina, replicas of Columbus’ ships, sailed into Port Royal Sound recently and were open to the public for tours at the Downtown Marina in Beaufort.

The replica of the Nina was built completely by hand and without the use of power tools. Archaeology magazine called the ship “the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.”&nbsp;

Both ships tour together as a new and enhanced “sailing museum” to educate the public and school children on the “caravel,” a type of Portuguese ship used by Columbus and many early explorers to discover the New World.

Crewmen add stain to the deck hatches. One crew member said there is always something to do aboard the replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships.

[caption id="attachment_32076" align="aligncenter" width="1026"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/RES4291.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-32076"><img class="size-full wp-image-32076" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/RES4291.jpg" alt="This is a replica of the Nina’s crew roster." width="1026" height="1400"></a> This is a replica of the Nina’s crew roster.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_32072" align="aligncenter" width="932"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/RES4268.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-32072"><img class="size-full wp-image-32072" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/RES4268.jpg" alt="Replica ships of Columbus’ Pinta, foreground, and Nina visited Beaufort last week at the Downtown Marina. Here, members of press meet some of the crew on April 19." width="932" height="1400"></a> Replica ships of Columbus’ Pinta, foreground, and Nina visited Beaufort last week at the Downtown Marina. Here, members of press meet some of the crew on April 19.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_32077" align="aligncenter" width="930"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/RES4298.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-32077"><img class="size-full wp-image-32077" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/RES4298.jpg" alt="Crewmen add stain to the deck hatches. One crew member said there is always something to do aboard the replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships." width="930" height="1400"></a> Crewmen add stain to the deck hatches. One crew member said there is always something to do aboard the replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships.[/caption]