The old cargo ships that Columbus and his crew traveled in were relatively slow. Potts stated in the article that the ships, also called carracks, went about 6.5 knots (or 7 mph). The fact that these ships relied solely on the wind meant that some days the ships did not even travel at the average speed. If Columbus had a ship with engines instead of the sailing ships then the trip would have been much shorter. The average cargo ship today travels at about 23 knots when loaded with supplies (The Economist). Even the clipper ships later designed in North America would have reduced the time taken to arrive in the Americas. Had Columbus been able to travel at a faster pace then his supplies would not have spoiled and his men would have survived much longer. Columbus would have been able to arrive much earlier and possibly encounter the Native Americans with a lower population. The faster ships would have given Columbus and his crew a slight advantage over the
The old cargo ships that Columbus and his crew traveled in were relatively slow. Potts stated in the article that the ships, also called carracks, went about 6.5 knots (or 7 mph). The fact that these ships relied solely on the wind meant that some days the ships did not even travel at the average speed. If Columbus had a ship with engines instead of the sailing ships then the trip would have been much shorter. The average cargo ship today travels at about 23 knots when loaded with supplies (The Economist). Even the clipper ships later designed in North America would have reduced the time taken to arrive in the Americas. Had Columbus been able to travel at a faster pace then his supplies would not have spoiled and his men would have survived much longer. Columbus would have been able to arrive much earlier and possibly encounter the Native Americans with a lower population. The faster ships would have given Columbus and his crew a slight advantage over the