She keeled over on her side, her seams opened, the water leaked in, the waves broke over her, the masts fell out and the Santa Maria had made her last voyage.
Then Columbus was in distress.

The Pinta had deserted him, the Santa Maria was a wreck, the Nina was not nearly large enough to carry all his men back to Spain.

And to Spain he must return at once.

What should he do?
Columbus was quick at getting out of a fix.

So in this case he speedily decided what to do.