Zabra

Early Iberian documentary sources, such as the Estoria de España,[1] refer to their use by the Moors and from about 1500 onwards a fleet of zabras developed in the coastal trade of Cantabria on the Cantabrian Sea, and fishermen began using them to exploit the fisheries of Ireland and North America.

Because of their excellent handling qualities, and despite their modest size, they were frequently used by the Crown of Castile for the transport of money and soldiers to Flanders, as well as in transatlantic voyages.

[2][4] Zabras were used for exploration, reconnaissance and the dispatch of messages,[5] and also for guarding the coasts and landfall areas that were of interest to the Crown and its overseas empire.

While sails were necessary for crossing the Atlantic and traveling long distances, oars allowed for better maneuverability in the absence of wind, for ascending rivers, or for quickly escaping combat in shallow waters.

With a typical gross tonnage of between 80 and 170 tons, zebras had elongated and flat hulls with fine lines, a marked sheer and a pronounced tumblehome that made the beam at deck-level much narrower than at the waterline.