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'Christopher Columbus' ship docks in seaside town

Neve Gordon-Farleigh
BBC News, Norfolk
Robby West
BBC News, Norfolk
Reporting fromGreat Yarmouth
Robby West/BBC A wooden boat which is docked at Great Yarmouth. Robby West/BBC
The Nao Santa Maria - a replica of Christopher Columbus' famed ship - has docked in Great Yarmouth

A replica of a 15th Century ship described by visitors as being like a boat straight out of Pirates of the Caribbean has docked at a seaside port.

The Nao Santa Maria is a "faithful, full-scale historical reproduction" of the ship used by Christopher Columbus on his first expedition across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, according to the Nao Victoria Foundation.

Visitors will be able to climb aboard the replica from 9 to 20 July at South Quay, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Dawn Paine, who is visiting from Skipton, North Yorkshire, said: "Do you know, what can I describe it as? Pirates of the Caribbean. If you're a Disney freak like me, when I'm looking at it, I can see Jack Sparrow."

Robby West/BBC A man in a purple T-shirt who is holding a camera up and taking a picture of the wooden ship. The sky is blue and there are clouds above in the sky.Robby West/BBC
The boat, which was constructed in Spain, weighs about 180 tonnes, is 29m (95ft) long, and 8m (26ft) wide

The boat, which is a floating museum, was built by the Nao Victoria Foundation and was constructed in Spain by almost 100 tradespeople including shipwrights, ropemakers and maritime craftsmen before launching in 2018.

She weighs in at about 180 tonnes, is 29m (95ft) long, and 8m (26ft) wide.

The original Santa Maria was the largest of the three small ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first expedition across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492.

The visit comes after thousands of people were brought to the seaside town to see the Galeon Andalucía Spanish ship last year.

Robby West/BBC Dawn and James Paine standing outside in front of a wooden ship. Dawn Paine is wearing a white T-shirt and red coat and is looking directly at the camera and smiling. James Paine is wearing a blue T-shirt and grey coat. Robby West/BBC
Dawn Paine said the boat reminded her of the swashbuckling film series, Pirates of the Caribbean

Ms Paine, 64, said she and her husband - who are holidaying in Beccles, Suffolk - saw the "amazing" boat as they were driving and decided to park the car and take a look.

"It blows my mind to think people went out into the unknown on things like that when you see how stormy the seas are and did all that discovering - it's amazing," Mr Paine said.

Robby West/BBC Cameron and his Mum, April. They are standing in front of the ship docked at Great Yarmouth. Cameron is wearing a light blue hoodie and is looking directly at the camera and smiling. April is wearing a black floral dress and glasses, and is looking directly at the camera while smiling.Robby West/BBC
April (right) said the ship's visit was "fantastic" for Great Yarmouth

Cameron, 12, went to see the ship with his mother April and said it felt like he was "standing in front of history".

"It's fantastic for the area and it makes me feel quite proud to be part of the area," April added.

"It's so vast... you look up at the crows nest and it's enormous."

The boat will be docked at the South Quay before it departs on 21 July.

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