The look of the fictional ship was inspired by the seventeenth century Dutch "fluyt" vessels and the "Vasa", a real-life Swedish warship which sank in 1628. However, the ship itself resembles a sailfish. The "Flying Dutchman" has five staysails making it easier to sail against the wind than running before the wind. The ship is more organic plant matter than timber and sail, heavily encrusted with marine life that reflects its strong ties to the sea. This may be the result of the fictitious "Dutchman" often being submerged. Also, it is apparently a result of the curse that turned the crew into monsters as when broken with Davy Jones' death, the ship itself loses all of the marine life attached to it and reverts to its original form like its crew does.