WAK 07-08-2015 "Saettia" żaglowiec genueński

Saettia is the name of a type of sailing craft that was used from the 13th to 18th centuries in the western and central Mediterranean. Units of this type were used primarily for trade and transport of various types of goods, but were also used in the course of combat as auxiliary units. Most of the ships of this type had specific shaped sides that facilitated the loading and unloading of cargo. Saettia ships were also appreciated for their good speed and maneuverability. Its importance can be proved by the fact that in the 16th century it handled about 40% of Genoa's maritime trade. In the course of development of this type, they were created with a length of about 15 to about 25 meters, and the ratio of length to width changed from 3: 1 to about 4: 1. Unfortunately, to this day, few sources have survived - especially from the late Middle Ages - on the construction of this type of ships.