At this point you should have:
Assembled your piece
Setup the board

STEP ONE: Object of the Game (in brief)

Option A) 20 Doubloons
The first player to collect 20 Doubloons wins the game

Option B)We've got 45 minutes
Start the clock. Adjust the time allowed according to the number of players. At the end of the time period, every player gets one last turn. Then, the player with the greatest number of Doubloons wins.

Option C) Special<>br Occasionally (every month or so), I will place "adventures" online for you to download, print out, and enjoy. These have special objectives and rewards.

STEP TWO – Your First Turn

At the start of your first turn, you should select a Special Cargo piece from a face down pile. This Special Cargo is worth five Doubloons if you deliver it to the proper island. You may only have one Special Cargo at a time, and can't simply dump it over-board. When you have delivered your Special Cargo, you may draw another one at any island for free.

Once you have your Special Cargo, place your ship on the table touching START ISLAND. It would be wise for you to place your ship piece so that it is facing your destination. At the end of your turn, the next player goes. If a player is controlling pirate pieces, skip their first turn. After that, she/he should place all of the pirates so that they are touching Pirate Island. The Pirate player should play all pirates at once.

STEP THREE: On your turn you will:

1) Sail your ship.
2) Fire each of your cannons once.
3) Deliver cargo, buy cargo, sell cargo, draw a new Special Cargo card from the pile.

STEP FOUR: Sail Your Ship.

Go here to read all about sailing.

STEP FIVE: Fire each of your cannons once.

Go here to read all about firing.

STEP SIX: Buy, Sell and Deliver Cargo

To the left, I have placed a diagram of an island, labeling key parts. First, the name lets you know where to take your Special Cargo. On the left, there are three Cargo Good icons. In the free Demo game, there are three Trade Goods: Fruit, Tea and Pets. Finally, on the right, there is a number and a Doubloon symbol. Each island will buy and sell different Cargo Goods for different amounts. Now, as long as your ship is touching an island, you may buy and sell Cargo, and deliver and draw Special Cargo.

Each ship may carry a different number of Cargo Goods. Look in the lower left hand corner of your Ship Chart. There is a small box with the word "Cargo" and a small numbered crate below it. You may never carry more Cargo Good pieces than this. Special Cargo DOES count against this total.