Flying Fish

So named because of their distinctive sail designs, Flying Fish are a special type of ship invented by the inhabitants of Chadwick for the express purpose of navigating The Everstorm. The main feature of these ships is a set of oversized sails that sit perpendicular to the ship's deck that can be retracted or unfurled quickly.
  In favourable conditions, these sails function as a pair of wings that allow the ship to glide above the waves for short bursts, lowering the chance of the ship being caught in a wave and capsizing. As a bonus, when in a place within the Everstorm and with favourable winds, the Flying Fish are among the fastest vehicles in the world.
 

Crew

The design philosophy of the Flying Fish is to not fight the elements but work with them. As such, Flying Fish are small, barely larger than a Caravel, with a small crew to match, about 5-10. In addition to the normal configuration of crew, each Flying Fish is manned by what is called a Diplomat.
  Diplomats are sailors gifted with some form of control over storm and sea. They may be priests of a sea god, a member of a druid circle, or simplu have a knack for controlling the wind. Their job is to use their powers to help steer the ship as it soars through the air as well as heeding warnings from the navigator.
  The reason for the perculoar name of Diplomat is that few, if any, practitioners of Storm Magic have enough strength to compete with the might of the Everstorm. Instead, they use their connectiin to the elements to form a bond with the storm spirits, and quite literally negotiate a relatively safe path through the storm telepathically. Because of this, Diplomats are seen as the most important crew member on the ship, and in emergencies are prioritised even over the captain.
  The Helmsman and Navigator roles are slightly different compared to a traditional vessel. A Flying fish has a wheel and rudder for normal sailing, but in the storm it has little use. Instead a set of pulleys and ropes control the gliding sails and allow the ship to maneuver whilst airborne. This is inherently risky, as one false move can cause the wind to hit the sails wrong, sending the ship to a watery grave.
  The navigators job then, is to study the erratic patterns of the Everstorm and warn the Helmsman of any sudden shifts in weather.
 

Uses

  Flying fish are mostly used for 2 main purposes: diving and "fishing".
  Fishing is referring to the practice that many lower income and less well equipped crews turn to, as it is relatively cheap and easy to set up. The practice involves the setting up of two enormous nets on either side of the vessel spread over a wide area, not dissimilar to a trawler. Unlike normal fishing however, these nets are not for catching fish and marine life but rather catching trinkets and treasures as they fall from the sky. Downpours of trinkets are relatively rare in the Everstorm however, and as such it doesn't pay as well as diving does, but is much cheaper and less risky.
  With the acquisition of Chadwick by the NWTC, a new version of fishing has been taken up. Instead of nets, the ship has an array of long metal tubes with subtle enchantments by an NWTC mage that connect to a cylinder of metal known as a "cell", a particular type of artifact from the Forgotten Age. As the ship flies through the storm, lightning becomes drawn to the tubes and is channeled into the cell, giving it an arcane glow. The then glowing cell can be sold back to the NWTC (or more illicit buyers) for a solid profit. All the equipment required for this form of fishing is loaned to the crew by the NWTC, in exchange for exclusive rights to the ship's "catch". This tends to pay less that traditional fishing but is far more reliable as lightning is frequent in the Everstorm. Most of the crews in Chadwick have switched to this method, with but a few clinging to tradition.
  The most lucrative profession for a Flying Fish crew is diving, but it is by far the most dangerous. Diving ships are equipped with not 2 but 4 anchors attached to extra long chains. These anchors have a unique design similar to a grappling hook. When a wreckage beneath the waves is discovered, all 4 anchors drop and latch on to the wreckage or the sea floor. The Diplomat will then use as much of their power to hold the nearby portion of the storm as still as possible.
  From there, a team of divers will descend down into the ocean. Since the waters are too rough for diving suits, the teams' only air supply is a diving bell that is lowered with them. The divers then gather up as much loot as they can, of which there is an abundance thanks to both the downpours of treasure and the poor souls claimed by the Everstorm.
  This diving is extremely risky. Unpredictable currents could carry a diver far out to sea, the team will no doubt have to fight or scare off predators, and if the Diplomat loses concentration then it is likely the whole ship will be destroyed by the sudden rush of waves. Because of the risk, diving teams are among the most respected among the local island communities, with the more successful crews becoming major celebrities on Chadwick.