Villeneuve reported that he intended to attack on 23 July but could not close the British fleet in the light breeze. Aggressive Royal Navy expectations made the excuse sound weak at first. The combined fleet, however, had just been battered and lacked the British crews' depth of practice under sail. The assessment concerns accumulated practice and sea time rather than inherent French or Spanish ability.
Notable Point · 42:57-44:12
Allied ship-handling after Cape Finisterre
Villeneuve's claim that a light breeze prevented a renewed attack becomes a lesson in the combined fleet's limited practice after battle damage.