Why was the lateen sail important to the age of exploration?

Why was the lateen sail important to the age of exploration?

In addition to allowing ships to sail closer to the wind, the lateen sail also made ships more maneuverable. Ultimately, the lateen sail enabled explorers to discover new regions of the world in a way that traditional “square” sails would not have been able to.

How did the caravels lateen sail help sailors?

Caravels were lightweight ships used in the XV and XVI century, mainly by explorers from Portugal and Spain. Due to its light weight and large size, the caravel assured a faster sailing time as well as lots of space to transport goods and food for the sailors, thus, making it easier for longer voyages.

What were sails used for?

A sail is a tensile structure—made from fabric or other membrane materials—that uses wind power to propel sailing craft, including sailing ships, sailboats, windsurfers, ice boats, and even sail-powered land vehicles.

What is a lateen sail quizlet?

Lateen sails. Large triangular sails that are attached to the masts by long booms or yard arms which extend diagonally high across both the fore and aft portions of the ship. You just studied 12 terms!

What were lateen sails made out of?

Lateen sails were developed by the Arabs, then adopted in the eastern Mediterranean. Because they were used in the Mediterranean, northern sailors gave them the name “lateen” from “Latin.” A lateen sail is a triangular piece of cloth.

How do Lateen Sails Work?

It works by creating a difference in air pressure between the two sides (concave and convex) of the sail. This is the same way a fore-and-aft sail works. This is why the lateen sail is considered the ancestor of the fore-and-aft sail. The advantages of the lateen sail is that it is effective in lighter winds.

Why is sailcloth used for sailing?

Modern sailcloth begins life as industrial fiber and film. The ideal sailcloth fiber would last for decades of use, stand up to the harsh sailing environment (toughness and structural durability), would not stretch under load (modulus and shape holding) and would be low in cost.

What would best explain the origin of the lateen sail?

The lateen sail was an evolution from the square sail rig. Sailors first used it in the Mediterranean during the Roman Empire. The lateen sail is the first fore-and-aft sail and goes along the line of the keel.

How did the Lateen Sails help the Europeans?

lateen sail, triangular sail that was of decisive importance to medieval navigation. The sail, its free corner secured near the stern, was capable of taking the wind on either side, and, by enabling the vessel to tack into the wind, the lateen immensely increased the potential of the sailing ship.

What was the significance of the lateen sail?

Lateen sail. Lateen sail, triangular sail that was of decisive importance to medieval navigation. The ancient square sail permitted sailing only before the wind; the lateen was the earliest fore-and-aft sail. The triangular sail was affixed to a long yard or crossbar, mounted at its middle to the top of the mast and angled to extend aft far…

What kind of sail was used in medieval times?

Written By: Lateen sail, triangular sail that was of decisive importance to medieval navigation. The ancient square sail permitted sailing only before the wind; the lateen was the earliest fore-and-aft sail.

What’s the difference between a square and a lateen sail?

“Lateen” sails are triangular and are fundamentally different from “square” sails in functional principles.

Where does the name lateen come from on a boat?

A lateen (from French latine, meaning “Latin”) or latin-rig is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction. Dating back to Roman navigation, the lateen became the favorite sail of the Age of Discovery, mainly because it allows a boat to tack “against…