Although this has been mentioned to @tidefated, it occurs to me I never actually posted it. Derek’s situation is an extremely unique one – up until Buford’s interference in his life, he had never once set foot on land. His first actual experience of it was not until shortly before his lieutenant’s examination – and he needed a great deal of help getting his legs under him. 

He walks in a mincing fashion on land and is no more comfortable there than a bird of prey. Aside from his lieutenant’s examination, he has since managed to stay aboard and avoid going to shore – so he has not developed any land balance whatsoever. 

This will be especially notable in his Black Sails verse, which is the only one which features Derek in a situation where he would be forcibly landbound for an extended period of time – for the first time in his life, no less.