Chebec??

BJ:

You're right about the Muslim crew's incompatibility with the topless figure, but this need not neccessarily have been an Arabic/Muslim vessel. Spain and several non-Muslim countries also sailed the Chebec/Xebec.

Jake
The Imai verison of the Chebec is Spanish.Also the French used them,and several other Mediterranean countrys.It was a good shallow drafting ship.
Rod

Cool, so I won't get accused of fondeling! hehehehehehehehe;)
I would have liked to see how she haneled in rough weather, with the lower freeboard. Bet she was fast thought!

Spanish, French, Venetians, and even the British squadron in Gibratar used Xebecs extensively. Xebecs have a number of strong points compare to Frigates. Because they can swap their normal ship rigged sails for Lateen sails, Xebecs can sail much closer to the wind than square rigged Frigates. Xebec hull, being descended from rowling galleys, can be rowed much more efficiently then frigate hulls, so when the wind dies, a Xebec can row its way out of touble where as a Frigate would have to either sweep laboriously, or lower rowing boats to tow herself.
,

When you say "sweep" I've not heard that word before in association with sailing, can you explain?

Jake

Sweeps are long oars used to propell sailing ship when wind dies down. Smaller frigates, like 24 or 28 gunners, usually carries them. When in use, they would protrude from small sweep ports located between gun ports. They would have little effect on bigger ships, so larger ships don't use them. When a bigger ship needs to move in calm days, they can either kedge, using their boats to drop their anchor out ahead of the ship, and then pulling themselves forward using the anchor, or they will use their row boats to directly tow themselves.

UH DUH! Now I remember!