I'll share a memory. I was sailing a frigate under the English flag and ran into a merchant fleet being escorted by a schooner and something else, I think a brig. I had the weather gage. There was a pinnace or two, a fleut I think, and some other ships that I can't remember (happened at least a year ago). Like a wolf, I simply sailed straight into the middle of everything with the wind behind me blasting broadsides all around. First one ship surrendered, then another. I made sure to slow down enough to damage the for'n'aft rigged vessels so they couldn't get away later. It was a great memory to see the power of a frigate doing what it was made to do. Destruction was dealt all about me; masts fell and white flags rose. I heavily damaged the second escort ship, but I can't remember if it got away or not. Then as I gradually proceeded through the merchant flotilla, I passed the bow of a pinnace, and there courageously sailed the schooner. Faithful to the end, the schooner sailed neck to neck with me. I had to have respect for the courage of the captain and crew. Dwarfed by the imposing frigate, the schooner tried to use its maneuverability and speed to advantage, but needless to say, it became my prize.
Of course after this, I had to tack upwind to get back to all my other prizes. Thanks to time compression, the wind eventually changed and I earned my keep.
I liked this instance because it fealt like I was Horatio Hornblower or Captain Peabody from C. S. Forester's novels. It seemed almost like a scene straight from one of his books.