Karavelle Santa Maria - Starter Pack

Beginner's set Karavelle Santa Maria - starter pack with tools and glue.

The Santa María was the flagship of Christopher Columbus on his first voyage to the Americas in 1492. Originally, the Santa María was not a caravel, but a carrack, a larger and more stable ship suitable for longer ocean voyages. The Santa María was built in Spain, probably near Pontevedra, and was originally called ‘La Gallega’ before being renamed by Columbus.

The Santa María was the largest of the three ships that accompanied Columbus on his famous expedition, the other two being the caravels Niña and Pinta. With a length of about 19 metres and a width of about 5.5 metres, the Santa María was a robust ship, but more cumbersome and slower than the two smaller caravels. It had three masts and was equipped with lateen sails (triangular sails) and a square sail, which gave it a certain flexibility when sailing in different wind conditions.

On 3 August 1492, the Santa María left the port of Palos de la Frontera in Spain with Columbus and a crew of about 40 men. After a long and arduous journey across the Atlantic, the expedition reached the Bahamas on 12 October 1492, marking the beginning of the European discovery and colonisation of the Americas. The Santa María played a central role in this, as it was not only the flagship but also the headquarters for Columbus and his officers.

However, the fate of the Santa María was tragic. On 25 December 1492, she ran aground on a reef off the coast of the island of Hispaniola (now divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and was irreparably damaged. Columbus and his crew were forced to abandon the ship. From the remains of the Santa María, the sailors built a small fortress, which they called ‘La Navidad’, where they left some men behind while Columbus returned to Spain with the remaining two ships.

Despite its relatively short service, the Santa María remains one of the most famous ships in history. It symbolises the beginning of a new era in world history and is often depicted as the ship that made the discovery of the New World possible. Her image is used in many representations and reproductions, and she remains an important part of the legacy of Christopher Columbus and his voyage of discovery.

The kit  contains ready-made sails , all parts and fittings , pre-sorted by assembly groups. Various woods and precision-cut components enable precise assembly and ensure a very realistic , detailed appearance. The kit includes a colour step-by-step assembly guide that shows all the steps in great detail. Detailed photos show complicated steps and ensure quick orientation.

The kit includes a basic set of tools and glue. Colours are not included!

Technical data:
Scale: 1:50
Length: 530 mm
Width: 220 mm
Height: 400 mm
Construction time in hours: 140