Sea of Thieves ship speeds explained

Understanding Sea of Thieves ship speeds is an important part of the game, as it can be the deciding factor when other ships chase you after a massive loot haul. Each ship in Sea of Thieves has a different maximum speed that can greatly affect your pirate journey in the treacherous waters. For the helmsman, keeping an eye out on the wind direction is key to successful and effective navigation in this game.

In this article, we will explain how the Sea of Thieves ship speed adjustments work, along with providing some tips that can help you outmaneuver opponents when the winds aren't on your side.

Do ships have different speeds in Sea of Thieves?

Yes, ships have different speeds in Sea of Thieves, and come in various "stages". These depend on the wind, the direction of your ship with respect to the wind, and finally, the size of your ship. Bigger ships have more sails, which allow them to travel faster when sailing in the direction of the wind.

Sea of Thieves has three primary ships based on their size, and here is how their speed adjustment works:

1) Sloop

Sloop as seen in the game (Image via Rare)

A sloop is the smallest ship in Sea of Thieves. It can accommodate a maximum of two players and has only one set of sail that needs to be controlled. It has only one maximum speed stage, and it is denoted by music when your ship is sailing in full bellow, in the direction of the wind.

When compared to the brigantine and the galleon, the sloop has the fastest speed when traveling with a headwind. If a sloop is chased by a brig or a galley, the best course of action is to travel against the wind.

Also read: Sea of Thieves Wild Rose walkthrough (Tall Tale guide)

2) Brigantine

Brigantine in the game (Image via Rare || Ghost Admiral/YouTube)

A brigantine has two sets of sails that the players need to control. As such, there are two-speed stages. When only one set of sail is set to full bellow in the direction of the wind, light music is played to denote this level. However, if both sets of sails are in full bellow in the wind's direction, a louder sound will be played, and the ship will move considerably fast.

A brigantine is often considered to be the best ship because it offers the best of both worlds. It has more firepower than the sloop and is better than the galleon in terms of maneuverability. It is the second fastest option when going both against the wind and with the wind.

Read more: How to buy ship in Sea of Thieves

3) Galleon

Galleon as seen in the game (Image via Rare || Ghost Admiral/YouTube)

A galleon is the largest ship in Sea of Thieves, and it has three sets of sails that provide three-speed stages. The overall logic is the same. Each stage is denoted by music that goes on to be louder when the next stage is set. If all three sets of sails are in the wind's direction, a galleon is incredibly fast.

Galleys are the fastest with the wind and slowest against the wind. Although any number of crew can operate a galley, it is recommended to have a four-man crew to effectively manage the operations.

Also read: What are Captained Ships in Sea of Thieves

Comparison of Sea of Thieves ship speeds

Speed with the wind (tailwind)	Speed against the wind (headwind)	Mobility
Sloop
Slowest	Fastest	Maximum
Brigantine
Medium	Medium	Medium
Galleon
Fastest	Slowest	Minimum

How to change the speed of your ship in Sea of Thieves?

To change the speed of your ship in Sea of Thieves, there are two actions you need to be aware of - the sail length and the sail angle. You can change the speed of your ship by changing the sail direction, or by changing the sail length.

Sail angle

To gain more speed, direct yourself towards the direction of the wind. In Sea of Thieves, you can see the direction of the wind by looking at the sky when on a ship. White lines will blow denoting the direction of the wind.

For maximum speed, angle your sail in such a way that it coincides with the direction of the wind. The idea is to make the sails capture maximum wind so that it can pull the ship faster.

Sail length

The length of the sail is another factor that determines the speed of your ship. When the sails are fully down, the ship will potentially gain the maximum speed. If you want to slow down your ship, you might raise your sails till the speed suits your desire.

When all the sails are fully raised, the ship does not catch any wind. In such a case, it will either stop or float with the direction of the current or any other external factors. Similarly, with a full canvas (when all the sails are fully down), your ship will be at its maximum speed.

Adjusting your ship's speed in Sea of Thieves

To adjust your ship's speed, you need to use a combination of the sail angle and the sail length. For more speed, all the sails need to be down to their full length, and the angle must be set towards the direction of the wind. With the latest ship speed adjustment in Sea of Thieves, the sail angle is the more important factor for your ship's speed.

In scenarios where you need to slow down, you will have to use a combination of changing the angle or the length of the sails. Achieving this takes time and experience, and this idea will keep building as you play the game.

How to reach maximum speed in Sea of Thieves?

Full bellow is denoted by fluffed sails. (Image via Rare || Rob Raven/YouTube)

To reach full speed, also called full bellow of your ship in Sea of Thieves, two conditions need to be met:

The sail angle must be in the direction of the speed, for all the sails.
All the sails must be brought down to their full length.

This automatically means that you will have to travel in the direction of the wind to attain the maximum speed of any ship. It should be noted that the maximum speed of each ship is different as it depends on the number of sails.

Using the Horn of Fair Winds

The Horn of Fair Winds can increase the speed of your ship. (Image via Rare || PhuzzyBond/YouTube)

However, starting from Sea of Thieves Season 12, the Horn of Fair Winds device has become a wild-card entry that can aid you in attaining the maximum speed of your ship, even against the wind. It is a device that can blow strong gusts of air and can be used for a variety of different purposes.

However, when used on sails, it can blow strong gusts of air that can make a ship attain its maximum speed even while going against the wind. For ships that are already going with the wind, this device can also make your vessel go beyond full bellow, attaining a new high speed.

The Horn of Fair Winds does have a limit to its use though, and is not suited for extensive usage. Consider it like a non-refillable nitrous boost for your ship, that only lasts a short while.

For more articles on Sea of Thieves, check out the following:

Edited by Jito Tenson