I have recently been playing Mike Nagel's, Flying Colors (GMT Games) and notice that firing at the rigging seems overly effective, partially due a mathematical flaw in the combat system.
My question is, was firing high deliberately really a thing in naval battles? I can't think of a battle narrative that described it. Ships did carry chainshot to damage sails (and people) but I get no sense that there was deliberate firing high. As Mark Campbell notes in Close Action (Clash of Arms Games) there is simply more to hit lower down. Shot directed at the deck can take down a mast.
Can anyone come up with a primary source that actually discusses firing at the rigging as a tactic?