When the Santa Maria was wrecked and Columbus lost contact with the Pinta in a storm, he decided to use the only surviving ship, the Niña, to bring news of the discovery of a route to America to the royal court.

He left part of the crew, 43 volunteers, at the fortress of Navidad on Hispaniola and set sail for Spain with the rest of the crew. After arriving in the port of Palos, he proceeded to Barcelona to visit the royal court.