What People Say

Larry here. I just ordered Warren the Nina and He and I both LOVE it!! WOW!!! Richard does it again!!

For what ever it's worth, the aftermast on a 3 master is called....."the Mizzen" or Mizzen Mast. Richard is correct that the after most mast on a 4 master is called "The Jigger". Hope this helps.

Any chance of Richard putting out an aftermarket kit for the Nina so She can be built with her Ocean Crossing Square mast? Warren and I would both like that.

Jaqui sends Her Love to You and Yours and Warren and I send "Cheers"
YMPs, Larry and Warren

Dear Scott,

I was interested in your observations about Christopher Columbus in connection with the model of the Santa Maria.

I think your obvious dismay and condemnation are a little overwrought. No historian alibis any new exploration of any territory, including the English invasion of coastal Virginia. All explorers, and I include English, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish and French brought European diseases to America, Asia and Africa. You are evidently horrified by Columbus' reaction to the annihilation of his outpost on Hispaniola; yet Muslim countries routinely cut off the hands of thieves in this "modern" world.

Columbus was a man of his time. No better, and, perhaps, no worse. He was not a saint, but, considering all our culture advances since then, it is extremely difficult to find one today.

I find no problem in acknowledging his faults and mistakes, but those do NOT diminish his exploration efforts.

Some balance of appreciation must be coupled to your sense of condemnation.

Jim Stagg
Newnan, GA

Thanks Jim,

I'm including your letter on our pages for these models because I very much want to show the view from all perspectives. I think balance is a good thing.

Some have claimed that the spread of disease, in some cases with some explorers, was intentional (as with the distribution of infected blankets) but I find it hard to see how or why anyone would document such a horror. I certainly haven't seen anything that proves this to be true, but I wouldn't doubt it too strongly either.

I also believe that slave trading was pretty common in those days, so that doesn't stand out prominently in my mind either. However, much of what I did learn about Chris C. was just too ugly to share. I didn't enjoy how I felt while writing about him, and conversely, didn't feel comfortable censuring myself, so I just cut it short with the hope that someone else might do a better job than I could.

I'm pretty sure that if I were to contrast and compare 15th century Spanish atrocities to modern day Muslim atrocities, I would mention the two nine year olds and two eleven year olds who were recently targeted from an Israeli gunboat while away running from a blast on the beach. The primary difference I can see is that Columbus was at least hauled into court for his atrocities. My opinion is that we have come a long way in the wrong direction.

It would be hard for me to make a proper comparison without examining the industrial politics, the military policies, and the financial powers involved in both scenarios, historically and currently. but it would be enlightening to anyone who would think to look into it.

I agree that some balance of appreciation should be coupled with my sense of condemnation, and I invite you to write (in your own words, if you wish to elaborate) on this topic, either briefly or at length if you choose. I can cite the Encyclopedia Britannica excerpt on the matter, but original writing is preferable in almost all cases.

With your permission, I'll include your letter on the next page, but consider yourself invited to write more about this, and thanks, wholeheartedly, for your response.

YMP, Scott