Ships of the XVI Century: how were made, to be so fast?

Question: Ships of the XVI Century: how were made, to be so fast!?

In comparison with the Royal Spanish Ships that were carrying the American treasures in gold and another artcrafts!.
The Royal English ships were faster than the Spanish ships!. (Corsaires, Pirates, etc)
Example: The Dutch & English Pirates!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

The Spanish treasure ships were huge gallions designed to be a floating fortress!. They were heavy with cargo, cannons, and crew!. Being so huge and heavy, these ships displaced a lot of water and were very slow!.

The British and Dutch frigattes were nearly the length of the gallions but not nearly as broad!. Because of their length they could mount plenty of cannons but because of the lesser width they had less cargo space!. Thinner and lighter means less water displacement and thinner cuts through the water with less resistance, all of which made them faster!.

Pirates and corsaires used smaller ships such as sloops and pinnaces!. These ships were shallow on the draft and displaced even less water and therefore could out- manuever and quickly close in on larger slower ships like gallions and merchants!.

The smaller ships would surely loose a battle along-side the larger more heavily armed ships but all ships are vulnerable at the stern!. Tacking back and forth behind the larger ship, the smaller vessel can fire upon it without ever presenting itself as a target!.Www@QuestionHome@Com