Between Open 60 racing and various Spanish festivals, we have been seeing some interesting craft the past few weeks. We love the modern designs of course, but the functionality of the traditionals also has a certain appeal – and perhaps a lesson or two.

A Gaff cutter was coming out of the Sanxenxeo marina makes a lovely sight against the high rise apartments on the beach.

Sweating up the gaff rigged main provides a good morning workout, and a lot of sail area once the gaff is in place aloft.

From the looks of these craft we’d say they are a fishing design, optimized for load carrying first and then speed (first fish to market gets the best price).

A few miles away the town of  Combarro was having a festival celebrating the birth of Chris Columbus, who they (with others) claim as a local. This sailing dink with its lug rig was surprisingly quick upwind.

A very nice sail shape too, with lots of area.

Note the reef lines and firm hand on the tiller.

A different sail plan, but still very nice looking.

The gaff cutter with its twin jibs looks ungainly by comparison to the other rigs. But in heavy weather the gaff cutter rig will be more easily managed.

This caravelle design caught our eye in Baiona.

It appears to be quite  powerful,  probably capable of crossing an ocean (if they world weren’t flat), and floating high in these photos due to lack of payload.

As ungainly as the stern appears, it is balanced by a voluminous bow. Anyone care to venture a guess on the provenance and/or purpose of the original?