LONG BEACH : Replicas of 3 Columbus Ships to Skip West Coast

Citing the “tremendous logistic problems” of sailing replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships to the West Coast, a Spanish group has scrapped plans to dock copies of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria in Long Beach this fall.

Last month, American Indian activists protested the ships’ planned visit. They complained to Long Beach officials that Columbus’ arrival in 1492 aboard the ships robbed Native Americans of their land and culture.

City Council members voted April 28 to oppose the ships’ visit, saying the city would not honor Columbus. A week later, they rescinded that vote. On Wednesday, Spain ’92 Foundation spokesman Jose Tono Martinez said “popular response” to the West Coast visit had been favorable but “logistic obstacles” could not be overcome.