The Black Book of Corsairs

V. On Discipline

1.Discipline onboard is a thing of extreme importance. Without proper discipline, a crew will not function at the peak of its efficiency. Without the best efficiency possible, an expedition is bound to failure. These ancient Articles exist to lay out the laws of Corsairs:

2. "Every man shall obey civil command; for every Prize, the Captain shall receive a Captain's Share. Officers shall receive Officers' Shares. Corsairs shall receive Corsairs' Shares. Enough of the Prize must be spared by the Crew for the Tower's and Harbour Master's Taxes, and the maintenance and repairs of their Ship."

3. If any man shall offer to run away, or keep any secret from the Crew, he shall be marroon'd with a bottle of Water and a Dagger."

4."If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Crew, or game, to the value of a Silver Dime, he shall be Marroon'd or Beheaded."

5."A man that shall strike another, whilst these Articles are in force, shall receive a Stripe for each King on the bare Back."

6. "That Man that shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and Crew shall think fit."

7."Any Man that shall be severely Injured in time of Engagement, shall have half a Corsair Share more: if near Death, a whole Share."

8. If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer Death."

9.Now that the crews often include women as Corsairs, it must be added that:

If two or more Men quarrel over a Woman, must she be set Ashore at the nearest friendly Port, with half her rightful Share. The Men involved shall be cut off from their Shares, and suffer such other Punishments as the Captain and Crew shall think fit."

VI. On Sailing

1. Corsair ships are sailing vessels. Use sails whenever possible. Mastering the skill of sailing is securing the most important of advantages before a battle.

2. Be aware of your heading. When you have the wind blowing from the aft, you are running before the wind. When you have the wind blowing one sixteenth of a circle from the aft, you are running broad reach. When you have the wind blowing one eighth of a circle from the aft, you are sailing broad reach. When you have the wind blowing three sixteenths of a circle from the aft, you are sailing broad beam reach. When you have the wind blowing from the side, you are sailing beam reach. When you have the wind blowing three sixteenth of a circle from the fore, you are on close-hauled beam reach. When you have the wind blowing one eighth of a circle from the fore, you are close-hauled. When you have the wind blowing one sixteenth of a circle from the fore, you are sailing close-hauled into the eye. When you have the wind blowing from the fore, you are sailing into the eye of the wind.

3. Square rigged ships run faster before the wind and on broad reach than fore-and-aft rigged ships. Lateen rigged ships with oars may sail close-hauled or even into the eye of the wind, but a ship with square rigs may not advance close-hauled into the eye.

4. Side wind blows a ship off course. Hence sail slightly windward from your intended direction and you will reach your aim safely.

5. Winds between Umbar and Gondor blow mostly from the East to the West and slightly to the South.

 6. Always keep watches.

7. Always know where you are. Keep precise and up-to-date maps and charts at hand. Keep a logbook at hand. If possible, sail with an astrologer, especially when on voyages of discovery.

8. When encountering a storm, strike the sails down and pull the oars in. When encountering a whirlwind, use small sails to gain distance.

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