Action - 1721 - March 24 - Friendly sails on the horizon

Ships in Action:
Captains of the Squadron

Captain Collister - HMS Centurion, Minerva fifth rate

Captains of the Imperial Shipyards

Captain James Beckett II - Hercules Sleek fifth rate

Captain Noir Blackheart - Mercy fifth rate

Captain blind eagle - Mercy fifth rate

Captains of the IT'S DUTCH SON society

Captain Olk O'Donnel - Intrepid fifth rate

Captain Mary O'Sullivan - Raa Mastercraft fifth rate

Pirate Captains of the easymode clan

Jack Cowen - Hercules Pirate fifth rate

Lustmolch Bill - Cursed Blade fifth rate

Daryl Lict - Hercules Heavy fifth rate

Action Setup:
Captain Collister was returning the Centurion to Port Royal to refit and revictual after a series of cruises off Nassau. Having spent the morning aboard the Crusader just off Port Royal, he had noticed, and was very aware of, a large sail of pirate ships heading north through the passes off Irish Point and, subsequently, Port-de-Paix. Bearing this in mind he sent extra men to the tops and kept a keen lookout for enemy ships while bringing the Centurion back the same route.

Having left Marsh Harbour, where the ship was previously docked, he sailed southeast. The crew were hungry for an action as the cruises off Nassau had proved disappointingly uneventful. After passing Black Point, Terrible Jim, the maintopsman, reported spotting four sail engaged in combat to the southeast, dead ahead of the ship's current bearing. After closing the sails were made out; three pirate ships and a sole British vessel.

The Centurion beat to quarters and all hands were roused. With such a fair wind on the ship's stern, Captain Collister sent up all available sail and bore down towards the distressed British Captain. As he closed, he noticed a fleet of three British sail approaching the combat from the west, and a lone British Captain closing in from the northeast. What had seemed an easy prey for three patrolling pirates had now reinforcements bearing down on her from almost every direction.

The Action Itself:
The distressed Captain proved to be a Captain Olk O'Donnel, and he was much gratified as to our arrival to the engagement. The three ships that had sailed in from the west were three Captains of the Imperial Shipyards society. The pirates, now in sudden recognition of no longer outnumbering the British 3 to 1, but in fact being outnumbered 5 to 3, prompty put their helms to the horizon and attempted to flee. The pirates Jack Cowen and Lustmolch Bill were quickly removed from the combat as their vessels were holed in the stern and sank within moments of the reinforceing Captains' arrival. After these two pirates losing their vessels, Captain O'Sullivan joined the engagement.

Daryl Lict, apparently sailing in some sort of support role, had a more advantageous position as the enemy attempted to retreat. Already some 600 yards away from the combat he almost succeeded in fleeing. Yet what stopped him were two well-aimed bar shot from the bow chasers of the Centurion. Her crew cheered as it became apparent that the damage done to the pirate's jib-boom was sufficient to slow her escape. Thus, after a relatively drawn-out chase Captain James Beckett II, having displayed remarkable seamanship and clearly showing what a well-drilled crew he possessed, caught up with the pirate ship and dismasted her in an exemplary fashion.

The rest of the British fleet then caught up with Captain Beckett's speedy vessel and the pirate ship was boarded. The scoundrels were forced to strike their colours after their Captain was defeated at sword-point.

The Result:
Three powerful pirate vessels were sunk with no losses to the British fleet and barely any casualties in the crews of the British ships present. A truly devastating blow to the pirates.

Lessons Learned:
There are many lessons to be drawn here. First of all, it is always rewarding to pay careful attention to the movement of enemy fleets, as this information may yield the discovery of engagements in which British support is required. Secondly, it always pays off to keep a keen lookout; it is easy to retire to one's cabin during long hauls in non-contested waters, but through careful watching of the sea-lanes the odd fluke observation can result in a devastating blow to the enemy.

Thirdly, a lesson to all pirates out there, ambushing British Captains is always a bad idea. No matter how numerous your advantage, there will always be more Captains ready and able to catch up with you and make you pay for your crimes.