The San Francisco de Asis was a xebec, one of a class of relatively small three-masted sailing vessels used around the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. Her fore and mizzenmasts were lateen rigged, and her mainmast was square rigged, having three sails - main, lower main, and upper mainsails. This type was frequently outfitted with oars for use in calm water, but there is no indication that this vessel was so equipped
