The Nao Santa Maria enters Charlestown Harbour, South Cornwall. 15th May 2026

Charlestown, near St. Austell on the South Cornish coast, is the last open 18th Century Georgian harbour in the UK, & is a UNESCO world heritage site. After storms in September / October 2024 damaged the harbour gate, the harbour was closed to vessels , and repair work started. The damaged gate was lifted out in April 2025, a replacement assembled on site and lifted into position in December 2025, and final works completed early in April 2026. A public reopening took place on 4th April 2026, & the Nao Santa Maria arriving yesterday was the first visiting vessel to be welcomed through the gates. The Nao Santa María is a full size replica of one of history's most famous ships. On October 12th of 1492, led by Christopher Columbus, the original played the main role in the discovery of America. She sailed from the port of Palos de la Frontera (Huelva, Spain) together with the caravels “Pinta” and “Niña”, the so-called three caravels from which this nao was the flagship. The construction of the replica was carried out respecting its forms and details with historical rigor, using innovative and revolutionary systems in the shipbuilding sector of historical replicas of it's characteristics, which combine the construction in fiberglass and its lining of wood. Construction took around 12 months & she was completed in March 2017. She was a beautiful site sailing into the Cornish harbour. Thank you for watching. #Cornwall #drone #cinematic #sea #cliffs #coastline #galleon