Grappling should be based on speed difference rather than speed

[eriks]

You know that sails are attached to the yardarms by rope, right? And further by that logic anchors would be useless because they are on a rope as well.

 

 

 

Why don't you look at how much rope is used to attach a single sail to a yardarm and how many block and tackles (and their mechanical advantage) that are used to control each clew of a sail. Then multiply that number by the number of sails on the ship. Also look at the jungle of standing rigging required to support the masts.

[maturin]

Why don't you look at how much rope is used to attach a single sail to a yardarm and how many block and tackles (and their mechanical advantage) that are used to control each clew of a sail. Then multiply that number by the number of sails on the ship. Also look at the jungle of standing rigging required to support the masts.

Hence the reason that precisely that jungle of standing rigging is used as 'the rope' that lashes ships together in a boarding action.

[Prater]

I haven't read everything, but I'm pretty sure the speed difference between the ships has to be 1 knot or less to be able to grapple under 3.5 knots anyway.

 

The current system is better than when it was at 5 knots.  Now you have to actually plan it, you have to try and use tactics to slow the ship down, and we have lost all the yolo stuff, apart from the over emphasis people give to rams.