A carrack or nau was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in the 15th century by the Portuguese for use in the Atlantic Ocean and became widely used by Europe`s maritime powers. It had a high rounded stern with large aftcastle, forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. It was first used by the Portuguese, and later by the Spanish, to explore.... Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrack
(from the article `colonialism, Western`) ...travel; these were light ships, having usually two but sometimes three masts, ordinarily equipped with lateen sails but occasionally ... ...is in large part one of interaction between technical developments in the two narrow boundary seas. It is thought that sailors from Bayonne in ... The... Found on http://www.britannica.com/eb/a-z/c/28
The carrack was a form of sailing ship characterised by a rounded hull and high fore- and after-castles. The carrack carried three or sometimes four masts with the two foremost rigged with square courses and topsails. Dutch Carracks were about 34 metres long, of about 180 tons displacement and carried a crew of 20 and were used on long-distance tra... Found on http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/browse/RC.HTM