You may be looking for the Erimem novel.
The Buccaneer was the ship of Captain Wrack in the race for Enlightenment. It looked like a pirate ship as per the rules.
The Buccaneer was designed to move at the slightest touch of solar wind. It was fitted with a device to focus onto objects and cause an explosion, which Wrack used to destroy her competitors. (TV: Enlightenment)