Caravel

• Other Names: Carvel
• Developed By: Portuguese
• Purpose: Mainly used for exploration.
• Period: 15th and early 16th centuries
• Rigging: Two to three masts, originally with triangular sails, called lateen-rigged.  Columbus replaced the triangular sails with square sails for his voyage across the Atlantic.  A caravel with square sails is called a caravel redonda.
• Size: Up to 65 feet long and able to carry about 130 tons of cargo.
• Crew: The caravel redonda could be crewed by 25 sailors, even in rough weather.

Lateen-rigged caravel