GALLIPOLIS — Gallipolis City Commission President Jim Cozza proclaimed Nov. 18-24 Nina and Pinta Days in the city from the deck of the Pinta Thursday morning.

“I think it’s very good for the community,” said Gallipolis City Manager Randy Finney. “I think it’s good for people to come down and see what the ships are all about. We need to do more of this to bring more folks in. With the weather the way it is today, it just shows that there’s an interest in activities like this. I think the next three days will be very good.”

According to the proclamation, the Nina was built completely by hand and without the use of power tools. It’s been called “the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built” and was used in the production of the film, 1492.

The Pinta was built in Brazil approximately four years ago to accompany the Nina (built approximately 18 years ago) on all of her travels. The Pinta also has a salon below deck where visitors can view slide shows of the ships’ construction.

Both ships are touring together as a new and enhanced sailing museum in order to educate the general public and school children about the caravel, a Portuguese type of ship used by Columbus and many other early explorers to “discover” the new world.

One’s imagination is brought to life when touring the ships and viewing firsthand the craftsmanship of construction, the details in the rigging and the feelings sailors must have experienced while sailing into unknown waters with all the conditions on a small wooden vessel.

Grand Tour Nina and Pinta Capt. Kyle Friauf, now in his fifth year with the Columbus Foundation, Inc., said the ships log about 8,000 miles annually, traveling up and down the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and inland waterways. He said life aboard ship is challenging since crew members essentially step back in time during their tenure aboard the two vessels.

“The adventures of the sea are what’s fascinating to most people,” Capt. Friauf said. “Most people come aboard here because they want to be a sailor. But to be a 15th Century sailor is pretty tough, actually. The Nina doesn’t have a television set. Forget Internet access. Outside of what we can pick up on local radio stations, we’re kind of starved for news.

“The Pinta does have a TV and the guys can watch DVDs, so we have movie night,” he said. “It’s a little respite from the day to day duties.”

Capt. Friauf said the ship’s crew functions in the same manner as docents would at a museum, serving as tour guides for visitors, answering questions and exploring the history of Christopher Columbus.

Capt. Friauf said the crew welcomed a steady of flow of visitors throughout the day Thursday including a large group of school children from the Chesapeake Village School District that made the trip north on Ohio 7 to see the floating history lessons.

“It’s wonderful,” he said. “The city’s very receptive, very welcoming and we’re having a good time here so far. And the weather’s kind of cooperating as well.

“We’ve got many more school tours scheduled (today) and Monday as well.”

The ships are open for tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Monday before their scheduled departure on Tuesday morning. Admission is $7.00 for adults, $6.00 for senior citizens and $5.00 for students. Admission is free for children age 4 and younger.