Action - 1720 - November 9 - The Surprise off Irish Point

Ships in Action:
ALLIES:

Alec Dai - 'Capriceux' Mastercraft Frigate

Everett Wick - 'Lancer' Naval Cutter

Virgil Kyle - HMS Striker ('Conquistador' Sleek Frigate)

Lewis McLain - HMS Hunter ('Athena' Frigate)

-Approximately 8 other fleet ships of the British Navy

ENEMIES:

Billy Budd (50 NO) - 'Minerva' Mastercraft Frigate

Action Setup:
Prior to the battle in question, Captains Dai, Wick, McLain and myself had spent a good deal of time hunting in and around the 'Red Triangle' in the Greater Antilles, eagerly searching for prey. Unfortunately, we had had little luck doing so. Earlier in the night, we had accosted a captured Defiant Sleek Frigate under the command of a wily cutthroat of a pirate, but despite harrying him to no end, he managed to barely escape our grasp, and made Matthew Town successfully. We knew the tactics we used in the engagement were sound, but the pirate simply managed to keep us at bay long enough to escape. There was no shame in it, but it was still disappointing. Unfortunately, this pattern was repeated a number of subsequent times, namely in our efforts to intercept a French merchantman and a French naval frigate as they made for their respective destinations. Both slipped through our grasp, and we began to become quite despondent that we would catch anything before the night was through.

However, an hour or so later, Wick spotted a golden opportunity, one that might make our night worthwhile. South of Irish Point on the isle of Hispaniola, he spied a lone French naval officer preying upon a large patrolling fleet of British ships! Being as how he was already outnumbered, we all made for the battle, intent on repaying the French for their recent activities in the area.

The Action Itself:
Upon entering the battle, we found ourselves in a prime position to intercept the offending Frenchman. Not 150 yards off our forward bows, the Frenchman's Minerva mastercraft frigate was busy being battered away at by the British fleet. He had no chance of escape, being caught between ourselves and the fleet, and he quickly realized this. He turned to fight, but Captains Wick, McLain and myself managed to take down his sails and render him defenseless within a very short period of time. I subsequently demanded his surrender, but before he could answer, one of the ships in the British fleet finished him off with a well-aimed broadside.

Oh well.

The Result:
Victory! And a vindicating one at that. After so much hunting, with nothing to show for it, it was a real joy to cap off the night's sortie with an enemy kill.

Thus always to Frenchmen, as I always say! Huzzah!

Lessons Learned:
I think the simple lesson to learn here is that patience is rewarded. It took us a while, but eventually, our interception and hunting efforts paid off. Yet another reason not to give up, even if things may not be going your way initially. After all, everyone's luck changes eventually, right? Ours did, and so will yours. Just give it time...