A wide variety of vessels were used by pirates, but the sloop
was the preferred one since it had good speed and a small draft
which allowed it to travel in shallow waters. Speed was important
for a pirate ship for two important reasons: a) it allowed the
pirates to quickly overtake an opponent, and b.) it also allowed
the pirates a quick escape if needed. A shallow draft enabled the
pirates to hide in relative safety in shallower coastal waters
where larger warships could not enter.
The Royal Fortune - Captained by Bartholomew Roberts in July
1719. A 10 gun Sloop originally Portugese, Roberts was sailing it
when the rest of his fleet was stolen by Walter Kennedy while he
was busy elsewhere on the Fortune. With the Sloop, he captured an
18 gun Galley, which he then traded for a 28 gun French ship, each
successively named Royal Fortune. The Fortune, with the French
Royal Fortune attacked St Kitts, looting one ship and burning two
ships in September 1720. The ship was repaired at Saint Bartholomew
and captured many more ships.
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