Windrose Ship Guide

Hulls, sails, cannons, crew and the full naval loop — everything you need to go from rowboat to galleon.

Last updated: May 2026

Hull tier list

HullCannon slotsSpeedCrewUnlockNotes
Rowboat0Slow1Tier 1No cannons. Coastal hops only.
Cutter2Fast1Tier 2First real warship. 2 broadside cannons.
Sloop4Medium2Tier 3Balanced. The default co-op ship.
Brigantine8Medium3Tier 4Two masts. Real cargo hold.
Galleon14Slow4Tier 5Endgame. Two decks of broadsides.

Build order

  1. Build a wharf — required to even start a hull.
  2. Place keel · plank hull · raise mast · rig sails (the four wharf jobs).
  3. Put cannons on your ship at the hardpoints.
  4. Equip and load cannons from your inventory.
  5. Win your first sea battle.

Sails & the wind system

Windrose simulates real point-of-sail. The compass rose icon in the top-right shows wind direction relative to your bow. You sail fastest on a broad reach (wind 120° off the bow) and you cannot sail directly into the wind — you must tack at 45° angles. New players run aground because they sheet sails in the wrong direction; press Q to luff sails when in port.

Crew assignment (co-op)

  • Helm: One person, rotates camera = rotates rudder.
  • Sails: Trims for wind; biggest speed gain in the game.
  • Cannons: Each cannon takes ~6 seconds to reload; one gunner per side is fine.
  • Repair: Carry 20 planks + hammer. Repair below decks during combat.