Tip for sinkin' the "Big Boys" all by yer "onsey"

[Robert Blackthorne]

This method of attack is awesome if you can get a crew that understands what you're doing, and are not hopping on and off the cannons running back and forth accross the ship confused about what side to be on....You sink the big ships so fast, your cargo is full in no time at all....But it still works great if you're sailin' alone....If you have a small crew, you can explain to them before you sail, "I'm going to tell you a target, and what side to be on...When we hit that target with broadsides, I'm going to turn away or keep going forward, and gain some distance...the target will turn and start chase. When I have the distance, I will stop and come about on the other side, so you'll need to switch sides after the first strike..When the target comes in your site, open fire (crew can arc cannon fire for far range if they know what they're doing). When he target is in "Broadside" range I will fire (1 or 2 broadsides (depending on how good you get the "timing and distance" thing down)...I can get off 2 from the time the target is in range, before it starts coming about to fire )). Then I'm going to turn away and get some distance again (the target will follow, unless you go too far), and come about on the opposite side. So, when we start to move from a still position while attacking, just switch sides and you'll be in the right place"