The Journey of a Galley: Speed and Duration in the 1500s

In the 1500s, the speed of a galley varied based on factors like wind, weather, and the type of galley. Generally, galleys could travel at an average speed of about 3 to 5 knots under oars and slightly faster with favorable winds. This variability makes estimating the exact time taken for a 1000 nautical mile journey challenging, but a reasonable estimate can be made based on historical records.

Estimated Journey Time for a 1000 Nautical Mile Voyage

To estimate the time taken for a 1000 nautical mile journey:

Time Distance / Speed 1000 nautical miles / 3 knots ≈ 333.3 hours ≈ 14 days.

Time 1000 nautical miles / 5 knots 200 hours ≈ 8.3 days.

Therefore, a galley would likely take between 8 to 14 days for a 1000 nautical mile journey, depending on conditions and speed.

Historical Anecdotes of Galley Speeds

A 1572 account of a galley belonging to Don John of Austria’s fleet provides a fascinating insight into how galleys could travel at impressive speeds. The galley made a voyage from Sicily to Barcelona about 650 nautical miles in six days (approximately 108 nautical miles per day). This speed, far above the expected average, caused the Spanish to fear it might be carrying news of Don John’s defeat. The return trip took eight days (approximately 81 nautical miles per day). This was due to the strong "Levanter" easterly winds prevalent in the Mediterranean.

Further Insights from Historical Sources

Alongside this, there are other records that reveal the impressive speeds galleys could achieve. For example, Le galee veneziane nel Quattrocento mentions ships with remarkable performance, especially with favorable winds, where they could easily reach five or six knots. However, diaries of pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land suggest ships could average over seven knots on entire routes. A Florentine great galley that left Southampton on 23 February 1430 and returned to Pisa in 32 days, sailed a route of 2079 nautical miles. Assuming 12 hours of sailing each day, the average speed was 5.4 knots, with a total of 2.7 knots if considering 24 hours of sailing.

The distance from Constantinople (Istanbul) to Tunis is approximately 1064 nautical miles. Traveling this distance around the clock for 16.5 days provides an average speed of 6.45 knots. If we assume 12 hours of sailing each day, the average speed is 3.27 knots. Based on these observations, it seems reasonable to estimate that a merchantman galley, traveling at about 5 to 6 knots, would make the journey from Constantinople to Tunis in approximately 16.5 days.

These ships were primarily designed as sailing vessels, with oars mainly used for entering and exiting harbors. The misconception about the primary use of oars arises from the symmetrical hull lines and the emergency propulsion needed alongside sailing. Historically, while oars played a crucial role in maneuvering, galleys were primarily driven by the wind.