This screenshot shows the layout of the main controls - crew controls on the lower left, sailing controls lower centre, gunnery controls to lower right. Icons to show/hide the various controls are on the bottom of the screen on the right, and at left bottom is a text area for messages from your ship's crew. The British Third Rate alongside in this shot is under courses, topsails and t'gallants, and beyond, at long range, can be seen the ships of an approaching Franco-Spanish squadron.

Looking back in this shot to a ship of the player's squadron, while composing a signal - in this case, the signal book is open on the page for sailing instructions. Signals are available to control absolute heading, heading in relation to the wind, sail setting, formation and targetting.

The binnacle, with ship sailing controls. On the left, controls for increasing or decreasing the set of sail, or for backing the sails for a quick loss of speed. In the centre, the compass, with current selected course (in red) and current wind direction (in blue). There are quick controls below the compass for helm to port and starboard, and coming to the port or starboard tack. The log board on the right displays wind direction and strength, and current ship's speed.

The gunnery controls. Each deck is listed, with the types of gun carried - in this case the ship is a 74, carrying 32, 18 and 9 pounder long guns, and 18 pound carronades. Ammunition can be set separately for each type of gun (in this case, roundshot - double shot, chain and grape are also available). The load status of the guns is also shown, together with an indication of the range to the currently selected target (M for Medium range for the 32 pounders). Guns can also be targetted on the enemy hull or sails.

The crew controls, where current crew priorities are set. Options are: sails, which will allow for faster sail changes and generally more nimble handling of the ship; left or right broadsides, or both - manning both broadsides at once is possible, but reloading will be very slow; boarding parties, which will attempt to board any grappled enemy ships; and repel boarding parties - to keep boarders from larger enemies off your own ship. Below are indications of current crew strength, losses and morale. Sailors are rated in the game as landsmen, ordinary seamen or able seamen - in career mode crews can gain experience, and better crews give useful bonuses in reload time, sail changes and boarding actions.

Below is a part of the scenario definition file for Trafalgar, showing the information used to define each ship. Ship types ('First Rate' and so on) are defined in separate ship data files, which determine base sailing qualities, dimensions, models and textures to use and so on. The game architecture is designed to be open, so that adding a new ship type is simply a matter of adding a ship data file together with the necessary models (3ds for preference, though other formats are supported) and textures.

      <SHIP type="First Rate" shipName="Victory" nationality="British">
        	<CAPTAIN type="naval" rank="admiral" command="Independent"></CAPTAIN>
        	<CREW type="naval" sailors="677" marines="146"></CREW>
        	<BROADSIDE>
        		<BATTERY deck="lower" number="15" type="32 pdr"></BATTERY>
        		<BATTERY deck="middle" number="14" type="24 pdr"></BATTERY>
        		<BATTERY deck="upper" number="15" type="12 pdr"></BATTERY>
        		<BATTERY deck="quarter" number="7" type="12 pdr"></BATTERY>
        		<BATTERY deck="forecastle" number="1" type="68 carr"></BATTERY>
        	</BROADSIDE>
        </SHIP>

        <SHIP type="Second Rate" shipName="Temeraire" nationality="British">
            <CAPTAIN type="naval" rank="captain" command="Formation"></CAPTAIN>
		    <CREW type="naval" sailors="625" marines="130"></CREW>
		    <BROADSIDE>
		    	<BATTERY deck="lower" number="14" type="32 pdr"></BATTERY>
		    	<BATTERY deck="middle" number="15" type="18 pdr"></BATTERY>
		        <BATTERY deck="upper" number="15" type="18 pdr"></BATTERY>
		        <BATTERY deck="quarter" number="7" type="12 pdr"></BATTERY>
        	</BROADSIDE>
        </SHIP>
        <SHIP type="Second Rate" shipName="Neptune" nationality="British">
            <CAPTAIN type="naval" rank="captain" command="Formation"></CAPTAIN>
		    <CREW type="naval" sailors="625" marines="116"></CREW>
		    <BROADSIDE>
		    	<BATTERY deck="lower" number="14" type="32 pdr"></BATTERY>
		        <BATTERY deck="middle" number="15" type="18 pdr"></BATTERY>
		        <BATTERY deck="upper" number="15" type="18 pdr"></BATTERY>
		        <BATTERY deck="quarter" number="5" type="12 pdr"></BATTERY>
        	</BROADSIDE>
        </SHIP>
        <SHIP type="Third Rate" shipName="Leviathan" nationality="British">
            <CAPTAIN type="naval" rank="captain" command="Formation"></CAPTAIN>
		    <CREW type="naval" sailors="540" marines="83"></CREW>
		    <BROADSIDE>
		    	<BATTERY deck="lower" number="14" type="32 pdr"></BATTERY>
		        <BATTERY deck="upper" number="14" type="18 pdr"></BATTERY>
		        <BATTERY deck="quarter" number="9" type="9 pdr"></BATTERY>
        	</BROADSIDE>
        </SHIP>
        <SHIP type="First Rate" shipName="Britannia" nationality="British" >
            <CAPTAIN type="naval" rank="captain" command="Formation"></CAPTAIN>
		    <CREW type="naval" sailors="710" marines="78"></CREW>
		    <BROADSIDE>
		    	<BATTERY deck="lower" number="14" type="32 pdr"></BATTERY>
		    	<BATTERY deck="middle" number="14" type="24 pdr"></BATTERY>
		        <BATTERY deck="upper" number="14" type="12 pdr"></BATTERY>
		        <BATTERY deck="quarter" number="8" type="6 pdr"></BATTERY>
        	</BROADSIDE>
        </SHIP>
        <SHIP type="Third Rate" shipName="Conqueror" nationality="British" >
            <CAPTAIN type="naval" rank="captain" command="Formation"></CAPTAIN>
		    <CREW type="naval" sailors="490" marines="83"></CREW>
		    <BROADSIDE>
		    	<BATTERY deck="lower" number="14" type="32 pdr"></BATTERY>
		        <BATTERY deck="upper" number="15" type="18 pdr"></BATTERY>
		        <BATTERY deck="quarter" number="8" type="9 pdr"></BATTERY>
        	</BROADSIDE>
        </SHIP>