I favor the galleon for a good haul personally, but most of the time I will go for a sloop. You should see what I can do with it! There have been many an occasion I have fired a broadside at a ship which "Far out-matches me". They fire their broadside, and I simply slide out of the way.
Like it was said earlier, it's all a matter of preference. Not just preference though, but style of sailing. I like I have said earlier, can fire a broadside standing still, and then slip out from under the enemy broadside without a scratch.
A friend of mine, with a galleon, can actually fight
offensively! All he does is fire broadsides, over and over, while sailing circles around the enemy ship.