Tournaments

Tournaments are martial competitions held during Feasts.

Codex
"A common element of a feast is the tournament.

The invited nobles compete for prestige in personal combat using smaller military vessels. The ability of a noble to lead a flotilla is the most respected skill in the colonies, and surely one cannot lead a flotilla if one is not a capable pilot. Hence the tournament is an excellent way to demonstrate skill in real battle.

While the ships used are mostly disarmed, the tournament can still be dangerous, and participants are frequently injured. It is perfectly acceptable for a noble to appoint a champion from their entourage to participate in the tournament in their stead."