Dan Snow’s History Hit has partnered with Ubisoft to launch Sail Like a Pirate, a new YouTube-first documentary that brings the world of piracy to life ahead of the release of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.
Premiering on the official Assassin’s Creed YouTube channel on 18 June, the documentary follows historian and broadcaster Dan Snow and double Olympic sailing champion Ruggero Tita as they embark on an voyage aboard a traditional tall ship in the English Channel.
Together, they experience first-hand the gruelling teamwork, intense discipline and ever-present danger that defined life at sea during the Golden Age of Piracy, the iconic setting that inspired one of game’s most beloved adventures.
Filmed aboard the Royal Navy Cadet vessel TS Royalist in September 2025, Sail Like a Pirate combines immersive storytelling, historical expertise and hands-on maritime challenges to reveal what life was really like aboard a ship during piracy’s golden era.
The project forms part of the wider multi-year co-production partnership between History Hit and Ubisoft.
Dan Snow, Founder and Creative Director of History Hit, said: “I’ve been fascinated by the age of sail for as long as I can remember, both as a historian and as someone who loves being out on the water. What made Assassin’s Creed Black Flag so special was that sailing wasn’t simply a backdrop to the story, it was at the heart of the experience. Millions of players fell in love with the game because it captured the freedom, danger and adventure of life at sea in a way few others have managed. Filming Sail Like a Pirate gave us the chance to explore the reality behind that fantasy, stepping aboard a traditional sailing vessel to experience first-hand the teamwork, discipline and courage that life on the ocean demanded. It’s a brilliant example of how popular culture can inspire people to discover the real history that lies beneath it.”
Jon Creamer
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