Which sailing ship would be most useful in 1500?

If sent to 1500 with any sailing ship, which vessel would the panel choose?

HMS Warrior is the strongest all-around choice, though a clipper offers trade speed and Great Eastern offers extraordinary cargo capacity.

The panel compares several later ships that still qualify as sailing vessels and could be taken back to 1500. A four-masted clipper promises speed and profitable trade, but its advanced rig demands a highly skilled sailing master and crew. HMS Warrior is favored because she was designed to sail as well as steam, offers iron protection and modern weapons, and would be easier for the panel to command than a peak-era clipper. Great Eastern provides a different advantage through the quantity of cargo and wealth she could move across oceans. The choice therefore turns on whether the time traveler values controllable military superiority, expert sailing performance, or logistical capacity.