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Lateen Sail System

Type Object Region Worldwide Time 1551–1560

The lateen sail, a triangular sail whose luff is fixed to a slanted yard, allows ships to tack more nimbly than with square sails;…

Timeline

  1. 1551–1555Venetian and Ottoman ports · MediterraneanVenetian galleys and the Ottoman fleet used lateen sails for nimble maneuvering in the Mediterranean, carrying spices, textiles, and military supplies and sustaining busy shipping along the east–west sea lanes.
  2. 1556–1560Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal · South AsiaArab and Gujarati merchants sailed single-masted dhows rigged with large lateen sails, riding the southwest monsoon to Southeast Asia and returning on the northeast monsoon, competing with Portuguese ships for the spice trade.

Sources