Out of curiosity, is it possible to tack with a square rig, or do you always have to jibe? I've tried all kinds of strategies, including dropping all sails at 11 knots, and I just can't make it through irons.
You can tack, but usually you can't do it just with the rudder. As you are turning towards the wind, keep the topsail braced up (and loosen the headsails). You need to be able to turn far enough into the wind for the topsail to be aback. After that the wind blowing on the topsail should, hopefully, be enough to push you around the rest of the way; you might come to a stop, or be making sternway, but you should eventually go round through the wind.
Edit: the tutorial level, getting out of harbour, is practice for this.
Ok. Had to read Harland's Seamanship in the Age of Sailing to figure it out.
She's a "dull" one -- unable to tack without making sternway, which definitely is not a compliment. But many ships apparently could not tack without making sternway, so this not an inaccurate part of the simulation.
Applying all the tips and tricks in Seamanship, I can now at least get her head to wind before losing leeway. (Quite a few sail adjustments).
Wearing is easy enough (a 270 degree jibing turn). So I'm off to see if I can "boxhaul" her to change tacks. :-)
Edit: the tutorial level, getting out of harbour, is practice for this.