Africa
The caravels allowed them to sail closer to the wind than their predecessors.
The difference of the Spaniard and Portuguese explorers in reaching Asia was on the route they took. The Spaniard took western course after the Portuguese took first voyage from the east.
how did the lateen sail help the european explorers
Vasca da Gama was Portuguese, I believe, and was the first European to sail around the tip of Africa.
prince henry the navigator sent out several ships to explore the western coast of africa :)
Explorers have set sail for different countries all through history.
The sailed for sex
To reach Asia
The Portuguese were trying to find an alternate route to get to India. The exotic Indian trade goods were loved by Europeans, but to get there you had to walk through Europe and Asia, or Sail all the way under the continents. Thus many explorers attempted to find a faster way to get to India.
Iceland, Greenland, Vinland (America).
The Portuguese were the first to sail directly from Europe to India, while the Spanish were the first to sail directly to the Caribbean.