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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 manoeuvrability. 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 water color 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. 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]]’ [[The Niña]] and [[The 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. 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]]’ [[The Niña]] and [[The 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.