Concept drawing of a Grande/Great Carrack – based on the Great Michael (1511), a ship of the Royal Scottish Navy. It was the largest ship built by King James IV of Scotland. The dimensions in the drawing differ from those of the original ship, which had 43 guns and a crew of 1,420 men. Otherwise, this drawing is very close to the original. Made by Earl Lan, 2024
A carrack is a three- or four-masted ocean-going sailing ship that was developed in Europe, particularly in Portugal and Spain, in the 14th and 15th centuries. The carrack evolved from the single-masted cog and was initially used for European trade from the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea. It quickly found use in the newly discovered trade between Europe and Africa and later in transatlantic trade with America. In their most advanced form, they were used by the Portuguese and Spanish from the late 15th century onwards for trade between Europe, Africa and Asia, before being gradually replaced by the galleon in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
In its most advanced form, the carrack was a carvel-built ocean-going vessel: large enough to remain stable even in heavy seas, and spacious enough to carry a large cargo and the supplies needed for very long voyages. Later carracks were equipped with square sails on the foremast and mainmast and lateen sails on the mizzenmast. They had a high, rounded stern with a quarterdeck, foredeck and bowsprit at the bow. As the predecessor of the galleon, the carrack was one of the most influential ship designs in history; while ships became increasingly specialised in the following centuries, the basic design remained unchanged during this period.
