Editing Bilander

{{Short description|Type of ship}}
[[Image:Bilander (PSF).png|thumb|right|An illustration of a bilander]]
[[File:Bilander.svg|thumb| Rig diagram]]

The '''bilander''', also spelled '''billander''' or '''bélandre''', is a two-masted vessel. The foremast carries square rigs on all of its yards, and its taller mainmast has a long lateen mainsail yard with a corresponding trapezoidal sail and rig inclined at about 45°, with square rigs on the yards above that. The lowermost is secured at the corners by a crossjack.

==History==
A bilander was a small European merchant [[ship]] with two [[mast (sailing)|mast]]s. It was used in the [[Netherlands]] for coast and canal traffic and occasionally seen in the [[North Sea]] but more frequently in the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=They came from Germany, aboard the Thistle|last=Hawk, James R.|date=11 February 2016 |isbn=978-1483446394|pages=18|publisher=Lulu Publishing Services |oclc=980523921}}</ref> In England, the use of the bilander can be dated back as far as the reign of Queen Elizabeth.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l6PbcuKnUOYC&q=bilander&pg=PP1|title=The Book of Old Ships: From Egyptian Galleys to Clipper Ships|last=Culver|first=Henry B.|date=2012-09-26|publisher=Courier Corporation|isbn=9780486156897|language=en}}</ref> The [[mainmast]] was [[lateen]]-rigged with a trapezoidal [[mainsail]], but the [[foremast]] carried the conventional square [[Course (sail)|course]] and square [[topsail]]. Displacement was typically under 100 tons. However, the design was eventually replaced by more efficient sailing ship designs, leading it to be regarded as simply a precursor to the [[brig]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rCigJ7n7u-oC&q=bilander+ship&pg=PA28|title=Sailing Ships of New England 1606-1907|last1=Robinson|first1=John|last2=Dow|first2=George Francis|date=2007-03-17|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc.|isbn=9781602390393|language=en}}</ref> The design was popular in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as around New England in the first half of the 18th century, but was soon surpassed by better designs. It is considered the forerunner of the brig.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Robinson |first1=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6vEsAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA28 |title=The Sailing Ships of New England, 1607-1907 |last2=Dow |first2=George Francis |date=1922 |publisher=Marine Research Society |language=en}}</ref> Few examples survive.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Sailing vessels and rigs}}
[[Category:Merchant sailing ship types]]
[[Category:Sailing rigs and rigging]]
[[Category:Tall ships]]


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