Awful Runners

The mainland needs its booze, and you've got a ship to carry it. Buy illicit cargo from the Islanders and smuggle it to the Mainland to make your fortune. But great wealth comes with great risk, so watch out for the customs patrol! See how long you can last, and how rich you can get.

tl;dr
(All keys here are default, and can be changed on game launch)
+ Q and E to raise and lower your sails
+ A and D to steer your ship

+ Left and Right arrow keys to look around

+ I to view your hold
+ Z at a settlement to buy and sell wares
+ X at a settlement to visit the bank
+ M to view the map

Seamanship

Set your sails (Q and E) and steer (A and D) with the wind. Your speed comes from the wind, and your ship performs differently at different points of sail. The quickest path isn't always the shortest! View your map (M) to gauge where you are.

The Watch

Your crew are some of the best spotters on the seas. They'll keep an eye out for settlements and distant ships, so pay attention! Look around yourself with the left and right arrow keys.

The Hunt
The Mainland customs ships -- some of the best in the world -- are out on the seas, stopping and searching ships for illicit cargo. Get caught and you'll have to pay a fine, or worse! Avoiding patrols is the best, but you can use your wits and wiles to protect yourself if caught.

Your Hold
At settlements you can buy and sell goods (Z or click the icon). Different settlements buy and sell different things at different prices, so shop around if you get the chance.

You can buy legal and illegal cargo, and use can use legal cargo to mask your illegal goods; some items hide better than others. On the water, you can look at what's in your hold (I), and see how well your illegal goods are hidden.

Currency
Gold makes the world go round. Spend gold to buy good, sell goods to get gold. Getting caught with illicit goods costs gold, and gold can get you out of sticky spots. Gold is your life, and having some saved can get you back on your feet when things go wrong.

Store gold at settlement banks (X or click the icon) as insurance should you get caught; once you serve your time, you can buy a new ship (1000 gold) and pick up where you left off. Plus, deposits earn interest! Running low on cash? Banks also offer loans, but as long as you owe a bank you can't deposit into it. Not all settlements have banks, and banks offer different terms, so shop around!