D&D 5E 5 e sailing speeds

[xorpalm]

So with my Swashbuckling Sailor Warlock PC, I was looking into sailing speeds.

The PHB has 2 mph for a sailing ship, which seems quite low. At the url below (sorry , no linky allowed from me) , it says speeds
for ancient sailing ranged from a little under 3mph ( < 2 knots ) up to 12 mph ( ~8knots).

penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Journals/TAPA/82/Speed_under_Sail_of_Ancient_Ships*.html


Just pointing things out I'm pretty sure I could walk 2mph, and I've been on sail boats doing far more than that.

 

[jadrax]

So with my Swashbuckling Sailor Warlock PC, I was looking into sailing speeds.

The PHB has 2 mph for a sailing ship, which seems quite low. At the url below (sorry , no linky allowed from me) , it says speeds
for ancient sailing ranged from a little under 3mph ( < 2 knots ) up to 12 mph ( ~8knots).

penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Journals/TAPA/82/Speed_under_Sail_of_Ancient_Ships*.html


Just pointing things out I'm pretty sure I could walk 2mph, and I've been on sail boats doing far more than that.

It's always an awkward matter because ships often don't sail at their full speed for 24 hours of the day, so a lot of the time the speed you see in an approximate average trying to take into account darkness, wind-speed, having to take supplies, etc, etc.

Your probably better of just having ships sail at the speed of plot tbh.

 

[Andor]

The reality of sailing speeds is complex to say the least. For example which quarter the wind is coming out of drastically effects your forward speed. But which quarter is fastest depends on the details of the hull design and rigging. A modern ship is usually fastest when the wind is perpendicular to the direction of travel. However an ancient design like a cog was usually fastest before the wind (I.e. The wind is blowing in the direction of travel.)

Plus currents can play a massive role.

If it's an area of interest to you I'd suggest reading a few Patrick O'Brien books and doing some research.

If not, as Jadrax suggests, employ the speed of plot.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Look to the SRD as this has not changed from prior rules:

SHIP......................................per hour....per day
Raft or barge (poled or towed) 1/2 mile 5 miles
Keelboat (rowed) 1 mile 10 miles
Rowboat (rowed) 1-1/2 miles 15 miles
Sailing ship (sailed) 2 miles 48 miles
Warship (sailed and rowed) 1/2 miles 60 miles
Longship (sailed and rowed) 3 miles 72 miles
Galley (rowed and sailed) 4 miles 96 miles

Rafts, barges, keelboats, and rowboats are used on lakes and rivers. If going downstream, add the speed of the current (typically 3 miles per hour) to the speed of the vehicle. In addition to 10 hours of being rowed, the vehicle can also float an additional 14 hours, if someone can guide it, so add an additional 42 miles to the daily distance traveled. These vehicles can’t be rowed against any significant current, but they can be pulled upstream by draft animals on the shores.

I am sure there are rules for different ships and ship combat out there.

 

[mips42]

Also:
Schooner Avg 7mph 60 miles per day

A schooner is a two- or 3-masted ship that is smaller, lighter and faster than a Galleon, but can carry fewer people and less cargo...