
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,713
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Submarine
- 1–6 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 1976

Expansion for Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1
2002
Rules assistance for Rebel Seas: The British Navy at Bay Part I
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Rebel Seas: The British Navy at Bay Part I is an expansion for Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1 released in 2002 for 2–35 players, 240 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Mark A. Campbell and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
The British Navy at bay - part one Rebel Seas is the second volume in Mark Campbell's Close Action series. Its 20 scenarios cover naval actions in American waters during the American War of Independence. They range from one-on-one frigate actions to grand fleet engagements with over 20 ships of the line on each side. Each scenario contains the same level of research and commentary found in Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1. Rebel Seas is the first of three books spanning the years 1774-1792. The other volumes will treat the struggle for India (Monsoon Seas: Suffren's Campaign for India) and England's blockades of its Continental foes (European Seas: The Lifeline of Empires). (source: Clash fo Arms website)
Rebel Seas: The British Navy at Bay Part I supports 2–35 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Rebel Seas: The British Navy at Bay Part I is 240 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Rebel Seas: The British Navy at Bay Part I for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Rebel Seas: The British Navy at Bay Part I has a complexity rating of 3.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Rebel Seas: The British Navy at Bay Part I belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Simultaneous Action Selection. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Rebel Seas: The British Navy at Bay Part I are: Mark A. Campbell. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Rebel Seas: The British Navy at Bay Part I as an expansion for Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1 to use it. Check that your edition of Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1 is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.