Changes

The '''Caravel''' was the “work-horse” of the [[Spanish]] and [[Portuguese]] during the [[Age of Exploration]]; a vessel that would be adapted according to the varying needs and challenges of the era.

The '''Caravel''' was the “work-horse” of the [[Spanish]] and [[Portuguese]] during the [[Age of Exploration]]; a vessel that would be adapted according to the varying needs and challenges of the era.

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 water colour 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.