Volunteer Kalev Kruuk sends Greetings from Portugal and their own Replica Sailing Ship

 

Here's some news always welcome from our Volunteer Shipmates.  Kalev sent this photo almost 3 weeks ago, and I'm just now realizing the value. 

Kalev Kruuk, who has volunteered on Spirit of South Carolina with his son, passed on this photo of himself in front of a serious sailing vessel from the 16th Century... in Portugal. This vessel is docked at the port for which she is named:  "Vila do Conde". 

Think Ferdinand Magellan. 

Volunteer Kalev Kruuk checking a replica
 of one of the first serious ocean-going vessels
 to challenge "The World is Flat" theory. 

This from Wikepedia:

In its most developed form, the carrack was a carvel-built ocean-going ship: large enough to be stable in heavy seas, and capacious enough to carry a large cargo and the provisions needed for very long voyages. The later carracks were square-rigged on the foremast and mainmast and lateen-rigged on the mizzenmast. They had a high rounded stern with aftcastle, forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. As the predecessor of the galleon, the carrack was one of the most influential ship designs in history; while ships became more specialized in the following centuries, the basic design remained unchanged throughout this period.^[1]