I too have found the Galleons hard to beat. They have the guns of a 4th rate Ship of the line and more men. I am at war with the spanish and while I have taken a couple of proviences from them(flanders, Hispaniola and Andalusia). My navy can not leave port, since he has a fleet of 5 Galleons and 1 4th Rate SOL. I have tried fighting them with 4- 4th Rate SOL, 1- 5th Rate SOL and 2- 6th Rate SOL and lose, every time.