HMS Worcester is a 74-gun third rate of the Royal Navy. Jack Aubrey is posted to her in the Napoleonic Wars. In several ways she is an unlucky ship for him, partly because of her faults of design and structure and partly because he is hampered by restrictive orders, and he welcomes Admiral Thornton's orders to transfer to his old command, HMS Surprise, whose captain has died under somewhat mysterious circumstances. During the fleet action in the blockade, Jack and the Worcester were over pressed with wind. Worcester is severely damaged during a chase in brisk weather and is left at Malta for refitting.