The captains of the Pinta and Niña were two brothers from Palos, Spain, Martín Alonso Pinzón and the younger Vicente Yáñez Pinzón. Martín was the most reputed mariner of the Palos region, and his participation on the voyage had been essential for convincing seamen to enlist. Columbus and Martín’s relationship deteriorated as the voyage progressed, I suspect in part due to Columbus’s propensity to take sole credit for every success of the voyage.

Both men were disappointed that trading with the local peoples hadn’t secured the gold they had envisioned, and they believed on information from the Guanahanían captives that significant gold could be obtained on the Taíno island Baneque (likely the modern Great Iguana). They attempted to sail for Baneque, but contrary winds forced them to remain at Cuba, anchored in the modern Bahía de Tánamo.

Sunday, November 11, 1492
Saturday, November 17, 1492