Duel - 1721 - March 23 - Duel with the Pirate Sule Rule

Ships in Action:
Jonathan C. Hawke, level 24, HMS Cockatrice

vs.

Sule Rule, level 50, Fallen Refit Snow

Action Setup:
It was an early morning in the Caribbean. No other members of SGS were online, overall traffic was rather low. HMS Cockatrice was in the vicinity of Port-of-Spain to earn some more points for the British side in the scheduled Port Battle. After the fourth or so fight against Spanish 2- and 3-packs of carefully selected strength, I was just exiting the fight, and dashing for the next target, when I noticed a Pirate becoming visible very close to me. He must have exited a fight seconds before me and turning visible when he moved. I suppose he was as surprised to see the 'Cockatrice' as was I. For a minute I kept my course, insecure what to do, and left the red. He dashed after me, and stopped inside the red. After reviewing my inventory (not much to lose, just some "logs, common" and the like from the lowly merchants I was able to kill this morning), my ship (lots of dura left, only general outfittings), ammunition (2000 heavy round shot, check) and consumables (>10 of each, of the "rough" variety), I concluded that the potential losses were neglegible. Therefor the 'Cockatrice' was turned around and proudly sailed into battle. His ship was a "Fallen" Refit Snow, roughly equal to my "Postillionen" class frigate. The opponent of course, being double my level, would be the major factor...

The Action Itself:
A challenge was issued and accepted, and we found ourselves in battle. With ships almost evenly matched but vastly superior expertise on side of my opponent I decided not to attempt any boarding action and as long as possible deny such an action to him as well. Therefor I perpared for a fight with heavy round shots and tried to keep distance.

My opponent was trying to demast me, and therefor had to sail in closer.

I tried to negate his superior level somewhat by keeping "Thundering Broadside" on him as often as I could. His ship was somewhat more nimble than the 'Cockatrice', and therefor he was able to occasionally turn his other broadside against me, to protect a damaged one. I on the other side did not have this chance, as him hitting my rigging was all the same all the time... but the permanent pounding on his hull proved effective to an extent, as he was taking more damage than he could repair. Unfortunately by that time I was running out of masts... with the Cockatrice almost immobilized he moved in for a boarding, but had to endure more broadsides before being able to get in close enough, and his first attempt failed even then. More of my broadsides at closest range found their target. His armor was worn down, his hull at 1/4, when he landed a successfull grapple. One or two more broadsides, and maybe...

The boarding action was foreseeably short, I managed to wear down one of his waves against all of mine, but that was to be expected.

The Result:
1 point of dura lost from the 'Cockatrice'. No other harm done. I sailed for the next Pirate port of de l'Îsle to find my opponent in port there. He offered to return the salvaged contents of the cargo hold to me, which I declined, as they were his rightful spoils. We parted in polite atmosphere.

Lessons Learned:
At my level the "rough" repairs don't cut it any more. I should move up... and I might need more damage somehow... Is Bronze Round Shot that much better?