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Sailings are defined as the departure of merchantmen, the vessels, from a port. This did not include military, diplomatic, exploratory, or any other
type of voyages not directly involved with trade. Although many of the smaller ports have numerous fishing vessels that are involved in trade to some
degree, unless they are transporting a load of fish from one port to another they are not included in this description. For example, if a fishing vessel
sails out to fish and then takes its catch to another port it will not count as a vessel sailing from its home port on a mercantile adventure because it
did not come back into port first; if it had returned to port and then departed with its fish to another port then it would count as a mercantile sailing.
The importance of sailings is that they provide us with an idea of how viable a settlement’s economic life is. This is of course tied to its
market size; the larger the market the more sailings. In most cases sailings will be based on the number of tuns a port may be able to ship per year.
Looking at the material on maritime trade, in the Pilot’s Almanac, we see that a port has a certain number of lots/tuns available for shipping
each day. If we can determine about how many tuns a port of a certain size can generate each year then we can also determine how many sailings that port
can generate in a year. Within the ‘Shipping’ spreadsheet, I will have some routines that will assist the GM in this facet of the game.
Sailing Weather and Seasons
Weather Effects
Weather has a direct effect on when vessels sail and how often they can sail. For instance, a merchantman will hardly sail during the winter months due
to foul weather and the amount of goods that can be acquired during this time is minimal, thus there will be very few lots available for shipping at
this time of year. The following will describe how each of the weather elements affects sailing within northwestern Lýthia. According to all of the
HârnWorld weather generation tables, northwestern Lýthia. lies in a ‘Cool Temperate’ region, the exception being regions north of the
Sea of Ivae that are considered ‘Sub-Arctic’ and the southern portions of Palithane and Trierzon which lie in either 'Warm Temperate' or
'Subtropic' regions.
Winds
Looking at the wind forces in the weather tables in Pilot’s Almanac we can see that the summer and autumn months are the best times to be sailing;
the chances of encountering gale or storm winds being very low. As it turns out spring and winter have nearly the same chance for these strong winds;
with summer being only slightly less than the winter. Therefore, maritime sailings will predominate during the summer and autumn months. However, most
merchantmen will begin sailing in mid or late spring and chance the strong winds. Finally, very few merchantmen will attempt to sail in the winter
months and use the time to repair and re-caulk their vessels and/or get a belly full of ale.
When we look at wind direction we see that the dominant winds are coming out of the west. Even so, they only show up 50% to 60% of the time. This means
that sailing from western Hârn to eastern Hârn will usually not be a problem. The real problem comes in sailing from Hârn’s
principal port of Cherafir to Hârn’s western ports. The easterly winds only blow 20% of the time with northerly and southerly winds filling
the gaps. Since Hârn’s ships use the square sail sailing to west becomes a very difficult and time consuming task. Such a voyage could take
up to three times as long as an easterly voyage.
For the rest of northwestern Lýthia. this does not pose as big a problem since most travel is done in a northerly or southerly direction. In the south
where it can be a problem the vessels use the venyn sail and thus are more able to cope with the contrary winds.
Cloud Cover
Navigation within northwestern Lýthia. usually requires a good sight on the sun or the North Star when using many of the navigational aids available to a
ship’s pilot and/or master. During the spring and summer months the sun has a 25% chance of being hidden, the rest of the time the sky will be
either cloudy or clear. Autumn and winter however pose a serious problem for navigation since the sky may be overcast for 50% of the time.
Visibility is definitely one reason mariners choose to sail in the spring months even when the chances for strong winds are the same as for winter. Of
course the opposite hold true in the autumn when winds are light and visibility is poor.
Temperature
For the most part the regions around northwestern Lýthia. are temperate. In spring and autumn the temperature rages between cool to cold over 50% of the
time. During the summer months the temperature is predominately warm with spells of cool and hot weather together happening almost as often as it is
warm. Winter ranges between cold and freezing for 60% of the time and cool for most of the remaining period. Since snow and ice are a severe hindrance
to rigging and individual movement about a vessel’s deck, this is another reason mariners avoid sailing during the winter months. This holds true
for river transportation throughout most of the region. During the winter ice blocks or impedes travel and ice flows become a hazard to anything in the
river.
Precipitation
Fog is a constant threat during the spring and fall months, being possible up to 40%of the time. Spring is also a time when mariners can face a
veritable mixed bag of precipitation. The summer months have a 50% chance of being fair, but can be wet up to 25% of the time. Autumn is very similar to
the summer months, just foggier. Finally, the winter months have the heaviest precipitation, with snow being the dominant form. Again, winter is a
hazardous time to travel because of the high chance for snow or sleet and the hazards it brings to a bobbing vessel. Because of the fog, and the fact
that most mariners prefer to travel along the coast for safety and navigation, the spring and autumn months can be hazardous times to travel. In most
cases mariners will put into a cove till the fog clears or head to deeper water; both of which can be dangerous for a vessel and its crew if the fog
moves in while doing so.
Sailing Seasons
This section looks at each of the four seasons and their affect on sailing times within northwestern Lýthia. Each season’s weather brings a
different dynamic to sailing as do the economic factors that drive the need to conduct maritime operations.
Spring
Within this region the sailing season begins in spring. Although the weather data shows dangerous winds may be a significant problem (33% chance for
gale or storm force winds) and visibility due to precipitation may also be a factor (a 60% chance for limited or reduced vision); many mariners take the
chance. One factor pushing them to go to sea during this season, within Hârnic waters, is the arrival of the Cherafir Larun in mid-Peonu from
Karejia. Another key factor is the spring fisheries waiting for those with the courage to exploit them.
Whereas the ports of Aleath and Golotha may only have a handful of vessel large enough to make the trip to Cherafir, they must leave either at the end
of the month of Nuzyael or at the beginning of Peonu in order to reach Cherafir and off load and sell any cargoes before the Larun arrives. For most of
the trip winds will be from the west allowing them to run with the wind. The only danger comes from the fact that vessels sailing out of Golotha must
get around the west coast of Hârn without having the winds blowing them onto the coast. Some other major factors that may slow their trip down
would be the specter of extremely high winds, which would cause them to put into coves and ports for protection, and poor visibility due to
precipitation.
On the Hârn’s east coast very few of the ports will have anything larger than a Nivik since only Cherafir has the capability to build the
Dak. Vessels from these ports having a shorter distances to travel may not even leave for Cherafir until early Peonu or later. Vessels traveling along
the east coast will also be protected from the stronger winds to some degree, GM’s could reduce all generated winds by 1 to reflect the vessel
sailing along the protected eastern coast, precipitation will still be a factor in how fast the vessel proceeds due to limited or reduced visibility.
Cherafir is Hârn’s only major port; and being the terminus of the Cherafir Larun, and several other trade routes from the mainland, its
merchants will usually garner the bulk of the goods coming in on these vessels from Karejia and the mainland. In addition, Cherafir is the only port
within the Hârnic isles that has the size and facilities to build Daks, they do not build Karunes. Although a few of the other ports of Hârn
may have Daks and the odd Karune, most use the Nivik for all of their trading activities. Very few of these ports have vessels over 50 feet that could
act as merchantmen sailing between their home ports and Cherafir; especially along the west and southern coasts. Therefore, Cherafir merchantmen tend to
dominate in trade between Cherafir and the regional ports of Hârn.
Throughout Hârn, local trading activities will usually commence in late Nuzyael or early Peonu since many of the factors that can disrupt the
longer voyages are not as big a threat for voyages to nearby ports. Nuzyael also sees the commencement of fishing along the Hârnic coasts.
On the continent merchantmen also want to get sailing at this time to meet other Laruns and key Fair dates along the major trade routes of the region.
They too will face the same weather conditions and hazards as the western Hârnic merchants moving east.
Summer
Summer is the best of times for shipping within the northwestern Lýthia. Shipping is continuous throughout the summer, moving supplies, building
materials, industrial goods, etc. However, around mid-summer Hârnic wool is collected and begins to be shipped to regional clothiers or exported
off of Hârn to the continent. In the later part of summer winter crops are shipped throughout the entire region of northwestern Lýthia.
Throughout the summer Cherafir receives long haul vessels carrying goods that are scarce throughout Hârn, such as: wine, timber products, oils,
etc. and exports high demand Hârnic wares, usually items supposed made by the Elder Races.
The major fisheries of the northwest are also being worked throughout this period as well as the salting and packing of fish for shipment to market.
Autumn
Autumn, like spring, has a high risk for strong winds (30%) and poor visibility (65%). However, this is also a prime time for moving the yearly harvest;
so mariners take the chance in exchange for the profits to be obtained. This is also the time that the great herring fisheries open and much time is
spent moving salt, packing material, and preserved fish to and from the main fishing areas.
During Savor, the last month of the season, sailings begin to wind down proportionally throughout the month till most mariners are settled down for the
winter.
Winter
Very little maritime activity takes place during this season. The winds are a constant threat, the cold causing problems with rigging crew safety; in
addition, visibility is greatly reduced. As a result most vessel owners and masters have their vessels pulled out of the water, if possible, to prevent
damage due to storms or ice and to allow repairs and maintenance to be done on the hulls. Vessels too large to be hauled out are careened for repairs
and maintenance and then anchored in safe harbors to protect them from storms.
Only military, royal missions, messenger services, or like voyages are usually attempted during this season. In addition, a few hardy soles may attempt
to run supplies for settlements in need, but at a higher rate for the out of season service.
Available Cargo and Sailings
Every port has a limited amount of cargo it can produce annually based on its market size. In Pilot’s Almanac, under the ‘Supply and Demand
Table,’ the number of lots and tuns that are available in a port on a specific day are listed. Some will disagree with the following assertion but
I think it makes clear sense. By using the appropriate ‘Supply Lots’ and ‘Supply Tuns’ we can get a general idea of how much
cargo a specific port can produce annually. Using the above factors involving weather we see that very little to no cargo will be moved or available
during the winter and very little at the beginning of spring and the end of autumn. Therefore most of the lots/tuns will appear in the summer and early
autumn. Those generated during winter may be moved as emergency supplies or saved for the spring when shipping begins. Keep in mind that this is just a
means of letting the player/GM know how active a port really is.
Another factor affecting the number of sailings is how much of the cargo is loaded for each voyage type. To do this we must determine what the average
vessel size is for each voyage type and the percentage of voyage types per port. The table to the right gives the percentage breakdown I have used per
market size. Each voyage type in turn has an average vessel size that is used in that kind of trade. Using the percentage of cargo used on a specific
voyage type and the average vessel size for that kind of trade we can generate a nominal figure for how many outbound sailings happen annually. This
does not mean how many vessels visit the port but how many trips leave it annually; many of these sailings will be the same vessels making repeated
voyages to nearby ports. At the GM’s discretion a number of local voyages could be combined on a short haul vessel; thus only one trip is made in
lieu of almost four local trips. The same could be done for other combinations of voyages. In most cases it will look like there are not that many long
haul voyages; however, many of these vessels may not be loading a full cargo but only taking on partial loads due to the vessel already having a partial
load on board. In these cases there will be more long haul sailings than those shown based on the GM’s discretion.
Dominant Ports
As mentioned above, there are a number of dominant ports that do not follow the above comments. Instead, these ports receive far more traffic and
commerce than do ports of the same size that are not on major trade routes. As a result these ports will have more sailings, lots/tuns, vessels, etc.
Although quantifying how much of a change is hard to do, for game mechanics I will use the figures shown in the sidebar.
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