How a 16th Century Sailing Ship Is Built: From the Keel to the Upper Yards
During the Age of Discovery, sailing ships became a technological marvel that allowed seafarers to cross the oceans. One such ship, the English Golden Hind, which circumnavigated the globe in 1577–1580, demonstrates key features of shipbuilding at the time.
The ship's foundation was a massive oak keel - a longitudinal beam to which the frames that formed the hull were attached. The planks of the hull, up to 10 cm thick, were connected with iron nails, and the cracks were caulked with resin-impregnated hemp for water resistance. The underwater part was covered with a mixture of pine resin, sulfur and whale oil, protecting it from shipworms and fouling.
Three masts – the foresail, mainsail and mizzen – were held by a system of standing rigging: shrouds, stays and turnbuckles. At a height of more than 30 meters, yards with square sails were attached, which were controlled by a complex network of cables. To raise the heavy yards, a system of blocks was used, and to adjust the sails – martingales and sheets.
Inside the ship there were holds with ballast made of stones, a crew quarters, a powder magazine and a captain's cabin. On the lower decks there were cast iron cannons that fired cannonballs weighing up to 5 pounds over a distance of more than a kilometer. The anchor weighing a ton was raised with the help of a capstan, rotated by the efforts of dozens of sailors.
Navigation in the 16th century remained a complex art. Latitude was determined by the sun and stars using an astrolabe, and speed was measured by a log – a board with a weight attached to it. A compass with a magnetic needle helped keep the course, although longitude calculations remained imprecise.
Ultimately, these ships, which combined brute force and engineering, became a symbol of an era when technology and courage opened up new horizons for humanity.
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