Sailing ships have always attracted romantics. What could be more beautiful than sailing on the waves on a ship driven by a fair wind? The names of the ships are already poetry. Frigate, battleship, schooner - they all evoke thoughts of long voyages across uncharted seas. But the most famous vessel is the brigantine.
Meaning of the word
Historical documents send us back to medieval Italy. The first brigantines are mentioned in the chronicles of the Genoese shipbuilders. The origin of the name is controversial. The fact is that at that time the armor of soldiers had the same name. Perhaps the brigantine inherited its name from them. Another version connects the name of the vessel with the brig. Indeed, these ships have common features.
The first brigantines were not only sailing, but also rowing. This fact speaks in favor of the first version of the name. These were war galleys with up to fifteen oars on each side. Later descriptions define the brigantine as a two-masted vessel.
Features of the structure of the ship
The sails inherited the features of the brig andschooners. They were straight on the front mast and oblique on the back. This allowed the brigantine to successfully carry out both combat and reconnaissance operations. With the headsails down, the ship was steered by one experienced sailor.
The brigantine was a favorite ship of pirates. Combat power was enough to capture merchant ships, and high speed and maneuverability made it possible to evade pursuit. If anyone has overcome difficult sections between reefs, it is the brigantine. By the way, another version of the vessel's name is associated with pirates (brigands' vessel - "bandit ship").
Brigantine in art
Perhaps the most famous work celebrating this filibuster sailboat is a poem by Pavel Kogan. The text was set to music in 1937. This is how the song "Brigantine Raises Sails" appeared, which became a symbol of freedom in the era of terror and repression. In the 60s, it was covered by Yuri Vizbor. The song has become a true informal youth anthem.
Another brigantine gained fame thanks to the rock opera Juno and Avos. In the libretto by Andrey Voznesensky, these ships are called schooners, which is a bit inaccurate. Unfortunately, the drawings have not been preserved, but enthusiasts got to the bottom of the matter. Two schooners were refitted, resulting in a brigantine and tender. "Yunona" and "Avos" are one of the most popular ship models in ship modeling.
Today you can cruise on the world's largest brigantine Swan Fan Makkum. This Dutch ship is equipped with modern equipment thatmakes swimming safe. Children's dreams of long-distance voyages under the sails of a beautiful brigantine have become a reality.
