At Sea

After blockading Charleston Harbor in 1718, Blackbeard's four ship flotilla sailed northward towards Ockracoke Inlet, NC where he met his demise. This view from Bald Head Island has the flotilla passing by offshore.

The H.M.S. Rose replica became H.M.S. Surprise in the film, Master and Commander: Far Side of the World. This is a recreation of a helicopter view from the film, painted at sea level from research photography of a sea battle re-enactment.

This son of a souced lobster holds a linstock with a lit slow match ready to fire the fine grained powder poured into a fuse at the cannon's touch hole to prime the charge. As the slow match ignites the powder, he yells, "Harr matey, have a ball! "

During the age of sail, the weather gauge provided a tactical advantage in engagements. To close or bear off, to reduce or add more sail, to board or escape are maneuvers more easily performed upwind. Sea rovers used this advantage to perform blitzes upon merchant ships firing as much small caliber shot in a barrage as they sailed past.

Pirates "on the account" needed to be vigilant to secure as much wealth as possible from sea trade. The best brace of pistols aboard a captured vessel were awarded to the shipmate who first sighted the intended prize. The first pirate to board in an action was also rewarded. Pirates had incentive programs!