Sea of words would probably do well as a companion but I think for understanding you'd be better off with just an illustrated sailing manual like royce's or the

Sea of words would probably do well as a companion but I think for understanding you'd be better off with just an illustrated sailing manual like royce's or the annapolis book. He was a good writer who understood he was writing for a modern audience and had a plan about it. The royal navy period social stuff is explained in detail as it becomes relevant. Sometimes things are mentioned without being explained, but he always fills in a detail before it actually matters for the plot. The sailing specific jargon though there is just too much and a lot of it you can functionally treat as technobabble and the books read fine. I think having knowledge of the points of sail and their dynamics is the main thing he assumes that is actually important for following the action.