[@TheIratePirate] No, that sounds perfect actually. Earlier would certainly be better to be able to lay low and claim whatever island or spit of land that might take our interest. Plenty of little specks that are possible.

As for the ship, for a packet vessel I was thinking a [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_sloop]Bermuda sloop[/url], a [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xebec]xebec[/url], or perhaps an [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Indiaman]Indiaman[/url] for small/midsize ships of reasonable capability. Of them, the Indiaman or sloop would serve as ideal local couriers or cargo ships, while remaining viable for piracy and the like.