Changes

In the early 15th century a caravel was termed as a Portuguese two-masted [[lateen]] rigged [[carvel]]-built vessel with forecastle and deckhouse, designed for trade in the [[Mediterranean]] and the [[Atlantic]] coast. When [[Henry the Navigator]] began his search for a sea route to [[India]] in the 1420s one of his priorities was the development of a suitable vessel. The caravela latina was the first design change, with a slimmer hull and three masts, though still all lateen rigged. This was followed by the caravella redonda, a three masted vessel, square rigged on the fore- and mainmast, however the mizzen retained the lateen sail as an aid to maneuverability. By the 16th century four-masted versions had appeared. A watercolor by the sixteenth century Spaniard, Monleon, shows two four-masted caravels square rigged on only the foremast. During the fifteenth century, the use of topsails was developed.

In the early 15th century a caravel was termed as a Portuguese two-masted [[lateen]] rigged [[carvel]]-built vessel with forecastle and deckhouse, designed for trade in the [[Mediterranean]] and the [[Atlantic]] coast. When [[Henry the Navigator]] began his search for a sea route to [[India]] in the 1420s one of his priorities was the development of a suitable vessel. The caravela latina was the first design change, with a slimmer hull and three masts, though still all lateen rigged. This was followed by the caravella redonda, a three masted vessel, square rigged on the fore- and mainmast, however the mizzen retained the lateen sail as an aid to maneuverability. By the 16th century four-masted versions had appeared. A watercolor by the sixteenth century Spaniard, Monleon, shows two four-masted caravels square rigged on only the foremast. During the fifteenth century, the use of topsails was developed.

Their size varied. [[Bartholomew Diaz]] sailed with two small caravels designed for poking about amongst the shoals and reefs of an unknown coast. [[Vasco da Gama]], on the advice of Diaz, was supplied with much larger and heavily armed caravels. [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus]]’ [[Niña]] and [[Pinta]] were small caravels. ([[Santa Maria]] was a “''[[Nao]]''”, a much larger and older design, developed from the craft that had carried the Crusaders two centuries and more before.) [[Magellan]]’s fleet included large four-masted caravels.  

Their size varied. [[Bartholomew Diaz]] sailed with two small caravels designed for poking about amongst the shoals and reefs of an unknown coast. [[Vasco da Gama]], on the advice of Diaz, was supplied with much larger and heavily armed caravels. [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus]]’ ''Niña'' and ''Pinta'' were small caravels. (''[[Santa Maria]]'' was a “''[[Nao]]''”, a much larger and older design, developed from the craft that had carried the Crusaders two centuries and more before.) [[Magellan]]’s fleet included large four-masted caravels.  

The term refers to the type of hull. The hulls of caravels were a mixture of Iberian and [[Arab]] design and were carvel built. That is, the strakes, or planks, of the hull were butt jointed along their edges; not overlapping ([[clinker]] built). This meant less drag, easier cleaning and enabled the use of shorter boards and the construction of a double hull if required. This method was not new – its use has been recorded from ancient times – but the success of the caravel caused an explosion in its use, and large carvel built vessels were being built in Holland and the Baltic by the second half of the fifteenth century. The word caravel, however, usually refers to those vessels of the Iberian Peninsula.

The term refers to the type of hull. The hulls of caravels were a mixture of [[Iberian Peninsular|Iberian]] and [[Arab]] design and were carvel built. That is, the strakes, or planks, of the hull were butt jointed along their edges; not overlapping ([[clinker]] built). This meant less drag, easier cleaning and enabled the use of shorter boards and the construction of a double hull if required. This method was not new – its use has been recorded from ancient times – but the success of the caravel caused an explosion in its use, and large carvel built vessels were being built in Holland and the Baltic by the second half of the fifteenth century. The word caravel, however, usually refers to those vessels of the Iberian Peninsula.

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