A carrack or nau was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in the Atlantic Ocean in the 15th century by the Portuguese. It'd a high rounded stern with an aftcastle and a forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. It was square-rigged on the foremast and mainmast and lateen-rigged on the mizzenmast. Carracks were the first proper ocean-going ships in Europe: large enough to be stable in heavy seas, and roomy enough to carry provisions for long voyages. They were the ships in which the Portugu… (More on Carrack)