Christopher Columbus' flagship on his first voyage to America. About 117 feet (36 metres) long, the “Santa María” had a deck, three masts, and forecastle and sterncastle and was armed with bombards that fired granite balls. She performed well in the voyage but ran aground off Haiti on Dec. 25, 1492, and was lost. Her sister ships, the “Niña” and “Pinta,” less than half her size, returned safely to Spain despite near catastrophe in storms.