Sailing in Sea of Thieves can be difficult for players of all skill levels. It often takes at least two competent players to survive on the high seas. Even gamers that have played Sea of Thieves since the game was launched can learn a thing or two about how to sail more efficiently.

RELATED: Sea of Thieves: Where to Sell Fish

Pirates should always be finding ways to improve their control of the ship and its sails. Additionally, sometimes players need to know when abandoning the ship is the only option. Pirates should utilize the following tips to get more loot and stay alive longer.

10 Setting Sails Correctly

Pirates can determine the direction of the wind by looking at the small flag at the top of the sail. There are three different types of wind directions that players need to look out for. If the sails are against the wind, pirates should face the sail as far away from the wind direction as possible. The ship will be faster than if the sails are down, despite no wind catching the sails. Sideways wind directions can be caught slightly by turning the sails away from the wind as well. If one hundred percent of the wind is caught by the sails, players will notice a fluttering sound that indicates that the ship is at full speed.

9 Centering Steering

Few players notice that each ship has a golden notch on the steering wheel, which indicates that the wheel is centered. When dealing with high wind and waves, sailors can use the gold marker to ensure that their steering is centered. The steering wheel will also make a clicking noise each time the rudder is facing straight ahead.

8 Players Can Turn Off The Lanterns

Too many pirates forget to turn their lanterns off at night. Each boat has a few lanterns that can easily be turned off, and new players often sail at night with the lights on. Crews that do not want to be detected need to turn off the lights at night.

7 Scuttling A Ship

Pirates should always be aware that they have the option to scuttle their ship. The tactic is useful if sailors want to hide from another crew. It is also a convenient way to free a ship that is stuck. Sea of Thieves gamers should make sure to scuttle their ship where the mermaid will not be spotted by enemies.

6 Hiding Loot

When completing quests, pirates should store their loot in a location that is not readily accessible to other players. Below deck or on top of the mast are the best places to store hard-earned loot.

RELATED: Sea of Thieves: Emissary Value Explained

Pirates that want to steal loot will have to walk down the stairs or climb up the ladder, giving players time to stop them. Storing treasure in a rowboat is another option, but it can backfire if opponents are particularly observant.

5 Keeping The Anchor Up

All ships in Sea of Thieves will stop if the sails are raised completely. It will take some time for the boat to come to a complete stop, however. If pirates plan to make a quick stop at an island, or are worried that enemy ships may be in the area should never drop anchor. By appropriately timing when to lift the ship's sails, players will never have to drop the anchor.

4 Leaving The Sails Down While Turning

Few players understand how the steering systems of each ship work in Sea of Thieves. Each ship has different speeds, turning radiuses, and sails. However, every ship turns faster when the sails are lowered. Crews should always have the sails down when attempting to perform a quick maneuver. Pirates do need to mind their speed, however, as the boat may be traveling too quickly to perform a tight turn.

3 Catching The Anchor

When players need to stop precisely and efficiently, catching the anchor is a clever way to stop the ship. After dropping the anchor, players should begin to pull it up before it hits the bottom and then drop it again. The tactic allows pirates to stop the ship without performing a drift.

2 Sink Enemy Ships With A Bucket

While this may be a niche tip for sailors, it can be effective in ship battles when both ships are going down. Players can actually use their bucket to transfer water from their ship into an enemy ship. The tactic will take a long time if the enemy's boat is not already taking on water, however. Despite how circumstantial the tactic is, it is extremely effective in close-quarters ship battles.

1 Checking The Map On The Sloop

The sloop is the only ship that has an unobstructed view of the map from the upper deck. The ship's captain can turn around and sneak a peak of the map from above. Pirates no longer have to waste time running up and down from the top deck to know if they are heading in the right direction.

NEXT: Sea of Thieves Update Adds 120Hz Mode for Xbox Series X