
Lateen Sail
A lateen sail is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction. The sail is capable of being angled with respect to the wind, making it possible to sail in any direction except directly into the wind. Lateen sails were used in the Mediterranean as early as the 2nd century AD and were commonly used on ships in the Age of Discovery. They were particularly useful for navigating the narrow waters of the Mediterranean and Red Sea, and for sailing against the prevailing winds and currents. Today, lateen sails are still used on some traditional sailing vessels, such as dhows and feluccas.
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