Hey Safeshark, here's a little something I found:
http://cmrbweb.free.fr/bataille/bataille.htm
Of course it's fully staged and no solid shot cannons, but I figured that should give you some more reason to finish your ship soon. Also note that the ships on that site have onboard motors for maneuvering when wind isn't available. The video (link at bottom of page) shows one sailing in reverse to evade a staged ship explosion. Overall, very cool. I can't wait to see your ship on the water!