From: Stephen Abrams
Date: 08 July 1997

Weather tends toward extremes on Midkemia. The summers are hot with little air movement and the winters are very cold with severe storms. During the summer, galleys are the primary vessels in the Bitter Sea and Sea of Kingdoms - complete with rams - the trireme is a good example, since there's little wind to work with. When the winds pick up in the spring and fall sailing ships become more useful. The fore/aft rig is not commonly known and only a few ships are as efficient as a full-blown clipper ship. As Ray said, think 17th century sailing vessels and you're pretty much on track. Winter weather is so severe and unpredictable that only the crazy of those in a REAL hurry venture out on the water.

SA