The largest for-and-aft rigged ships, barques are a traditional design similar
to many Mediterranean merchant and war craft. Many barques are built in the
Caribbean, rather than in Europe. Barques are good sailers for quiet seas, but
all too easily come to grief in a rough ocean crossing. This means that few
Barques return from the Caribbean to Europe, as the North Atlantic west-to-east
route is often stormy.
Barques are the slowest close-hauled sailers among fore-and-aft rigs, and
the least maneuverable. However, the advantages of the rig are so great that
Barques still surpass all square-rigged ships in both departments. Furthermore,
barques carry oars, allowing them to row straight into the eye of the wind. Due
to its large size and good handling, a pirate barque can be a formidable
adversary.
