The title is a Bergian joke on the fact that the Roman admiral threw the sacred chickens into the sea the day before the battle when the augurs told him the chickens would not eat. The Romans under Clodius Pulcher tried to surprise the Carthaginians on the beach, but failed.
Ships can accelerate slowly, brake somewhat quicker.
Command is based on being near the admiral or either in line ahead or column formation with the flagship or a squadron leader in the formation. Ships are rated individually for crew quality. Combat is by ramming, shearing or boarding. Carthaginians get a bonus, attacks at a shallow angle a malus. Here the Romans get a bonus.