Hmm, after taking a recheck I see I conflated two different people who wrote books about the History of the Indies, one hated Columbus, but as you say,las Casas praised Columbus for his navigating and sailing skills. True, he later condemns the slave taking and similar results, but yes, you are correct, I am wrong- las Casas had nice things to say about Columbus’s sailing skills, etc, altho vehemently condemning the treatment of the natives that came out of that.
Still, he was a very young boy when Columbus pitched his ideas and wasnt around for that.
Here is a reprt on the translation, but note las Casa sez nothing about what Columbus actually pitched-