CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — If you were here, it was a thrilling sight to watch the Columbus fleet sail across Corpus Christi Bay back in 1992.
The replicas were a gift from Spain in honor of the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' voyage to the new world.
But sadly, two of the ships rotted away.
La Niña is the last of the fleet and she is also in poor shape.
The Columbus Sailing Association (CSA) has been working to restore La Niña.
Everything is in place to move the replica ship to Aransas Pass so it can be repaired. The CSA is just waiting on the money to make it happen.
They have been promised $27,000 by an anonymous donor. That money is anticipated to pay for phase one of the salvage operation.
Phase one includes sailing La Niña to Aransas Pass, lifting her out of the water and beginning repairs on the main deck.
Visitors to Corpus Christi like Rex Keith are among those hoping this latest effort has smooth sailing ahead.
"It's going to take a lot of effort to get it fixed up and it's completely necessary. It is in disrepair and it needs to be brought back," Keith said. "This history is important to us and that's what we have. And anything we can do to preserve, save it, recreate it, It's important and we need to do that."
A spokesperson for the CSA says woodworms have caused a lot of the damage. The cooler weather is helping slow their destruction.
In fact, La Niña hasn't had any leaks in a month.
If that donation comes through, the plan is to move La Niña to Aransas Pass before the end of the month.
As for where the future home for La Niña will be, that is still unknown.
The Columbus Sailing Association has a Go Fund Me set up to raise money for the rest of La Niña's restoration. Click here.
For more information on La Niña or the CSA visit http://www.laninacorpuschristi.com/.
