A small sailing vessel, similar to a Mediterranean fishing boat, with two masts and lateen sails, used traditionally for fishing and coastal trade.
From French 'balancelle,' a diminutive of 'balance,' referring to the swinging motion of the boat. The name describes how these boats move gracefully on the water.
Balancelles were the Amazon delivery trucks of the Mediterranean—fast, reliable cargo boats that connected coastal communities for centuries, and their design is still studied by modern naval architects!
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