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While a fine ship, Victory doesn't have the internal bracing of the Constitution nor was her oak of as good a quality.
She was built with a permanent list requiring several tons of permant ballast. Ironically this probably made her, while not fast, a steady sailer, part of her reputation as a good steady comfortable ship.
The bottom line however is that while the Victory has the greater impact over distance, closer-too both are pretty much matched in firepower, and both on weight of lead can sink the other.
What it comes down to is the hull design. The Constitution is the next generation. She points higher, goes faster and turns better.
Ignoring the chance of loosing a mast, the Constitution can outmanover the Victory and rake her: imagine each of those carronades firing in turn as she crosses the Victory's stern.
Victory's only advantage is her stability. If the winds are high she's only really getting up to speed, whereas the Constitution is reefing and might not be able to open her lower gun deck ports. At that point, Constitution should run away as fast as she can, or get innovative.
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In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
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