I am confused about ship speeds

[azedalis]

Okay here is the scenerio. Got 2 fleets, 1 has 2 schooners with a haggler and 1 has 1 schooner and 1 cutter with a salesman. both are heading from same port to the same port. I would assume they would go at the same speed since fleets are suppose to go at the speed of slowest ship. but the one with the cutter seems to go slower, even though the cutter is a faster ship then the other 3. I Dont understand why this is so.

 

[unmerged(137907)]

The faster fleet might be more experienced. See if their icons have small stars, single star means single level.

 

[azedalis]

No...both fleet had same XP and nothing different about about them really. It was the start of the game and neither fleet had time to make much experience. Does sailing characteristics play a part on the strategic map, ie how well a ship sails according to wind direction? I have no idea what might be doing this. Heres another one...2 fleets basically made up of the same ships, if anything group A had more xp since its been sailing longer....Group A leaves for india 3 months earlier then group B. Group B sails for the same India port and arrives there a month before group Aand Arrives back to home port 3 months earlier then group A. There seems no rhyme or reason to delays the computers give these fleets. Oh BTW group A had 3 Schooners...group B 2. Captains same level 1 and same bonus Haggler.

To me, there seems to be a penalty for a fleet with more ships or something in those lines or more types of ships.

 

[azedalis]

Okay...count me a noob...didnt realize putting a fleet to avoid combat would slow them down...and it seems right much....but as you can see it is considerable.

 

[unmerged(175625)]

Got 2 fleets, 1 has 2 schooners with a haggler and 1 has 1 schooner and 1 cutter with a salesman.

Throw the salesman overboard. That will increase the speed considerably.