Columbus never would have let this happen.
A replica of Columbus’ Santa Maria — one of three ships in the navigator’s North America discovery fleet — got stuck in a sand bar off the coast of Brooklyn Monday afternoon.
The NAO Santa Maria, which travels to different ports to teach history on the 525th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage, got stuck during low tide as it traveled up the East River toward the Brooklyn Bridge to take photos, said crew member Angel Rosa.
Police boats responded and pushed the replica ship, but it didn’t sail free until the tide went up and dislodged it from the sandbar, Rosa said.
The ship sailed back to the Brooklyn Army Terminal around 4:30 p.m. — about an hour after it was caught in the mud.
The NAO Santa Maria has been making stops at ports in Spain and North America, promoting Spanish history and Columbus’ voyage, since January 2018, Rosa said. The Italian explorer actually sailed for Spain.
It’s next going to dock in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for Halloween — if it can make it out of New York Harbor.